Local MP visits community pub in Dunfermline

The commercial inn, a community pub in the heart of Dunfermline, hosted a visit from the Local MP, Douglas Chapman last week, on Thursday the 6th of October. The pub owned by UK’s leading community pub group, Admiral Taverns is run by passionate and dedicated licensee Andrew Black.

Elaine Kennedy, Regional Operations Director at Admiral Taverns, commented: “It was a pleasure to host MP Douglas Chapman at the Commercial Inn. Not only was Douglas keen to hear about the great work that Andrew and his team do to ensure the pub sits at the heart of the community, he was also interested to hear about our wider concerns within the hospitality industry and the need for more Government support.

“Community pubs are an integral part of the UK’s social tapestry, and the impact of the energy price rises are truly frightening. Pubs are in need of a lot of support from the Government to ensure they can survive the winter, so it was a great opportunity to discuss the need for a sector-wide VAT reduction and the cancellation of business rates for all pubs for the rest of this financial year to protect the future of our Great British Pubs.”

Douglas Chapman MP for Dunfermline and West Fife said:

“A good pub is often the backbone of a community, and that’s exactly what The Commercial Inn is to our city. The venue is a hub for a lot of people, offering great beer, great food, and a great atmosphere too. It was a pleasure to stop by and meet Andrew and the rest of the team, who were still on a high after the venue was named ‘pub of the year’ earlier this year by the Campaign for Real Ale. That accolade was well deserved and is now proudly displayed on the pub’s walls – along with the others it’s won over the years. I’m sure there are many more award still to come, and I wish all the staff the best of luck for the future.”

Andrew Black, licensee at the Commercial Inn, commented: “It was fantastic to welcome Douglas to the Commercial Inn and to see how interested he was in the work we’ve been doing within the community. He was also very understanding on how the cost-of-living crisis is impacting community pubs and offering his support in urging the Government for further help. We very much look forward to welcoming him back to the pub at any time!”