About Us
our story
Karen and Graeme Finnie have been part of the village of Houston for longer than they care to admit and as such were dismayed when the iconic Fox & Hounds went into receivership in Oct 2014.
The building had been a pub since 1779 and the thought of it permanently closing spurred them to take matters into their own hands. The husband and wife team put together a successful bid and embarked on an ambitious refurbishment to bring the listed building back to its former glory. Re-opening in December 2015 the couple were satisfied to have a tenant running the business and when a similar property became available in Kilmacolm they decided to investigate.
The old Kilmacolm station had been converted into a pub in 1992 but with no reinvestment the rooms were old fashioned and dark, and the food offering poor. The historical village of Kilmacolm with its vibrant centre deserved better. Once purchased, the old pub was stripped. A semi open plan layout was decided on with a modern centre-piece bar and an extension to the side allowed a kitchen expansion, Carriages opened in November 2019 .
Then COVID -19 struck, the tenant left and the pair were forced to make a decision, should both pubs close or despite having no experience of running a pub should they give it a shot?
Now, after working through the worst period in the history of the hospitality industry, both pubs are flourishing. The Fox & Hounds and Carriages strive to offer locally sourced food at competitive prices and are once again hubs for the village community.
The well-stocked bars at ‘The Fox’ have a tipple for everyone whilst maintaining its traditional reputation for its Real Ales and Whisky selection and the restaurant is regularly used for weddings, communions, christenings and whisky tastings as well as dining.
At Carriages the bar has every imaginable spirit, a large selection of draft beers, lagers and cider and a reputation for Scottish gins. Its food offering won “Best Gastropub in Scotland” in 2022 and its beautiful Beer Garden attracts visitors and locals alike.
Book Carriages Kilmacolm Today
Karen and Graeme would both like to take this opportunity to thank the staff for their enthusiasm and support in their venture, it couldn’t have been done without them.
Nor, could it be done without you, the customer. The encouragement of our regulars and the positive messages from new friends are heartwarming.
Thank you for your patronage, enjoy your meal, and we promise that you will always find a warm welcome at Gryffe Valley pubs.
awards
5/5
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