A PUB in Rosyth that's been shut for the best part of five years is to be demolished.

Fife Council have agreed that the Sportsman Bar can be knocked down to make way for six new flats.

A marketing report had concluded there was "no realistic prospect" of finding someone to take the Burnside Street pub on and make a success of it.

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Last orders were called in 2019 and plans submitted by Scott Adamson, of City Hotels Ltd in Dunfermline, will see a three storey block of flats replace the single storey bar.

A council report said: "It is considered that sufficient evidence has been provided to demonstrate that the existing business is not viable and the existing building could not be re-used for its existing purpose.

Dunfermline Press: Permission has been granted to knock down the Sportsman Bar in Rosyth.Permission has been granted to knock down the Sportsman Bar in Rosyth. (Image: Google Maps)

"Furthermore, supporting information has been provided which outlines the alternative existing facilities within the local community."

Documents submitted with the application described the condition of the building as "poor" and said the licensed trade was facing "considerable economic and social challenges".

The planning statement added: "Mr Adamson was previously advised by his bank that it would reject assistance to any prospective buyer of the public house in the current market volatility.”

A previous plan to demolish the pub and build flats was submitted in December 2022 but then withdrawn in March last year.

The City Hotels group owns several pubs, clubs and hotels across Fife, including the Gladyer Inn in Rosyth, the Adamson Hotel in Crossford and Lourenzo's nightclub in Dunfermline.

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The statement on Mr Adamson's behalf said: “He is confident about the viability of many of other licensed premises under his control, but he is not confident the Sportsman Bar can remain a viable licensed premises.

"The Sportsman Bar operated as a pub under lease, but the tenant 'faced decline in trade.' "It ultimately closed its doors in October 2019 and Mr Adamson began his search for a new tenant.

"However, a marketing report from commercial estate agency, Drysdale and Co, concluded that there is 'no realistic prospect of ever successfully finding a new occupier in the trade.'"

There was one letter of objection with concerns about road safety and residential amenity.