ONE of Cowdenbeath’s most popular bars has revealed its fresh look following lockdown as its new owners insist everyone is welcome.
Partners has undergone a post-pandemic refurb and last month unveiled its new-look beer garden which has had a fantastic reception by locals.
However, one of the new owners, Stuart, has hit out at ‘certain publicans’ who have been spreading malicious rumours that Partners is now an exclusively gay bar – something which is very far from the truth.
Stuart took to social media to quash talk of the rumours, insisting that Partners is, and always will be, open to everyone, adding that just because he and his partner are gay does not mean the bar is exclusive to anyone.
Speaking to the Times, Stuart said: “We have taken over recently and done a massive refurb, but there are certain publicans in the area who are not happy about it, and are not happy about us spending a lot of money on the pub, and have been saying to people in the area that it is now a gay bar.
“My partner is the son of the previous owner, Andrew Kirk, so nothing has changed, we have always been here. In all my years in Cowdenbeath nobody has ever had a problem with me being gay.
“We had a wonderful reaction to the post on Facebook and we have had a great reaction since opening.
“The people who are unhappy are almost saying that Cowdenbeath does not deserve somewhere with a bit of taste.”
While Partners is Stuart’s priority, he said he will soon be reaching out to other businesses so they can work collaboratively to make the area more appealing.
He said: “I want to speak to other pubs in the area, Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly, to try and improve the whole area so people want to stay instead of always going across to Edinburgh for a drink.
“Since reopening we’ve had groups of women sitting in the beer garden with a bottle of prosecco – that would never have happened before.”
The total refurb of the downstairs area cost in the region of £130k, and they have plans to turn the upstairs into a sports bar and karaoke so there is something for everyone.
Stuart added: “The kitchen is being worked on at the moment and the whole pub should be ready to fully reopen in time for May 17.
“Despite the bad reputation Partners has had down the years, it has always been an inclusive place.”
