West Wemyss Development Trust

“Without investment this community is dying”

With no facilities left in this once thriving coastal village, this community was in dire need of regeneration.

Luckily, the West Wemyss Development Trust had an inspired plan – to turn a disused pub into a vibrant community business.

The ingenious venture involved the creation of a fully licensed bistro, a cafe, a village shop selling locally grown produce, holiday accommodation in the shape of a bunkhouse and a renovated one bedroom flat for rental income.

The team also wanted to create several small allotments and, as the village's graveyard is now full, a woodland eco-burial site.

The passion and dedication of the group behind this has helped to move their ambitions forward and the West Wemyss Walk Inn opened for business in June 2011.

The bunkhouse and flat were completed in late July while the allotments and burial site will be in operation by the start of 2012. Four new jobs have also been created.

The project leaders hope it will be a self-sustaining enterprise with all profits going back to the community, thus allowing this pretty village to regain its strong sense of pride.

West Wemyss, Fife, Scotland