THE new owners of an iconic pub on Dunfermline's New Row have been overwhelmed by the welcome they have received since opening earlier this month. 

Kris Boniface and Chloe Wright opened the Haberdashery Bistro, formerly the Watering Hole, on December 11 and have already gained a number of regular customers. 

Dunfermline Press: The couple are delighted with the reception that they've received

Launching during the busy festive season, the couple have been working hard to establish themselves in the city centre.

Chloe told the Press: "It’s been good, it’s been really busy and the response has been amazing. Everybody has just been so nice and we’ve loved it. 

"We’ve been picking up a few bookings for January as well which is good because it’s a quiet time for the industry, but it’s coming along well and we’re getting a good name for our food and drink. 

"It has been a lot more food-driven, folk have been really accepting of the fact that it's more a restaurant this time around, but we’ve managed to get loads of regulars already - people that live around the bottom of the town."

Dunfermline Press: The couple are delighted with the reception that they've received

Drawing people in their food and drinks offering has been the pair's main approach to attracting people through the door.

Chloe continued: "It's been a good balance between food and drinkers, we don't want to narrow ourselves down to only doing one or the other.

"It would be stupid to just accept one or the other. If people want to come in and enjoy themselves then we’re not going to stop that.  

"I think people like that they’re not forced into having food, they can just come in and have a pint, and even bring their dog, or they can have a nice meal.

"It has been good and we have found that there are a lot of people who have popped in for one drink and have ended up staying four or five hours.  

"Being dog friendly has really kicked off, folk are so happy to be able to bring their dogs in. We’ve got regular dogs as well now so it’s lovely, it’s really nice."

Dunfermline Press: The couple are delighted with the reception that they've received

Kris, who is in charge of the kitchen, has been keen to ensure everyone is catered for, and has even been known to make up an 11pm cheeseboard for one of their patrons! 

"We’re quite accepting," she said. "We've been in the industry for a long time and we know that you cant just do what you want to do, you’ve got to do what the customers want. That's the whole point, that’s the name of the game  

"As long as the customers are happy then we're happy, we’ve got to make sure people want to come back and feel welcomed so hopefully that's how they feel and as far as we’re aware, I think we’re doing a pretty good job of that."

As they look ahead to the new year, there are plans for theme nights and the introduction of doggy meals. 

Chloe said: "The customers we’ve had so far have just been amazing and it really couldn't have gone any better so far.

"The staff we’ve got have been brilliant, they're so reliable, have picked it up really fast, and jumped in at the deep end in mid-December.

"It’s a new business so me and Kris are still trying to figure out what to do right and they've all dealt with it really well and it all shows in the food and the service.

"We’re just really happy with the way it’s going so far."