A small, traditional village pub coming to Port William

07/09/2026

**Maxwell Tavern update**

We know it's been a while since we posted, so here's where things are at.

The building warrant is almost there. Everything has been agreed upon apart from one thing, the toilet layout we designed doesn't quite conform with the regulations, so that decision now needs to go to someone else at the council to sort out. Mark, our architect, has been brilliant throughout this whole process, and he's following up with the council this week to get it moving.

On the builder side, he's now booked with other work until the beginning of October, so that's realistically when we'll start on site, assuming we get sign-off in time.

We have to be honest with you all. Given the scale of what's involved, we don't think a 2026 opening is realistic anymore. We're now looking at 2027.

This isn't a small refurb, the work includes digging out the floor and re-laying, installing a beer room (cellar), rebuilding the whole front of the building, removing and reinstating the front plinth, extending the rear corner to create stairway access to the flat above, plus all the electrics, fire alarms, extraction, plumbing, heating, insulation, sound and fire separation work, a full flat fit-out, and then the bar itself with the beer lines, till system and sound. It's a lot, and we want to do it properly.

Behind the scenes we've not been sitting still, though. We've applied for a street licence for outside seating, a provisional premises licence, and a personal licence, and we're working through everything needed around serving food and environmental health.

We know it's frustrating waiting for news, believe us, we feel it too. But we can only move forward once the paperwork is in place, and we're doing everything we can to keep it all on track. We'll keep you posted as soon as we hear more from the council.

Thank you for sticking with us, Port William deserves this pub and we're determined to get it right.

On a positive note! We have a one-page website up: https://www.themaxwelltavern.co.uk/ If you want to join the mailing list for more updates - go visit the website.

Annabelle & Dean

A new village pub opening at 6 The Square, Port William. Join the mailing list for building updates and opening news from The Maxwell Tavern.

12/08/2026

This new shop is wonderful ❤️

Another glorious day in Whithorn 🌞

Bonus, no tape dispensers were harmed today 😉

08/08/2026

I need to open a bank account for the pub. However, with no bank in the village what do businesses do ?

Can I pay cash in to a bank account via the the village shop - Post Office ?
Is there a limit ?

Or do we need to go to Stranraer or Newton Stewart and pay it in at a bank?

Any suggestions welcome 🩷

07/08/2026

Update from my architect about the building warrant………

Our application has been moved from North Lanarkshire Council back over to Dumfries & Galloway council.

So fingers crossed after 7 weeks waiting we will get some movement.

Thank you Finlay Carson For Galloway And West Dumfries for chasing this up for us.

Progress !!!!!

07/08/2026

Hey! Im Maggie, Annabelle and Deans best daughter (also the one writing this) every time i make the 500 mile trip up to port william i will be giving you all a update on what’s been going on with the pub renovation!

Thank you all for the amount of support our family have already received

Can’t wait to meet everyone and start serving some drinks🍻

06/08/2026

The first look inside what will soon be… The Maxwell Tavern🍻

30/07/2026

BUILDING WARRANT UPDATE --> THERE IS NO UPDATE!

Your local MSP Finlay Carson For Galloway And West Dumfries has been in contact with the Building Warrant Department asking for an update on our submission 47 days ago. As soon as I hear from their office I will let you know!!

24/07/2026

*****86 responses so far ********

We want to hear from YOU

Since sharing the building warrant news, we've loved seeing how many of you are as excited as we are about The Maxwell Tavern coming back to life.

Now we want your help shaping what it actually feels like day to day. What events would get you through the door? What drinks should we make sure we stock? Would you use it as a daytime spot for a coffee and cake, as well as an evening pint?

We're also working out our opening days. We'll be starting out 5 days a week to make sure whoever's running the place gets proper time off, growing to more days in summer if trade allows, so we'd really like your help picking which days work best for you.

We've put together a quick questionnaire, it's the same one we'll be putting through doors in August, so if you fill it in now, you've already had your say.

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

20/07/2026

**** 40 days now and no movement hoping yo hear from our MSP next week ********

Building warrant update from The Maxwell Tavern

We know so many of you are as excited as we are to see The Maxwell Tavern open its doors, so we wanted to keep you posted on where things stand.

It's now been 35 days since we submitted our building warrant application to Dumfries and Galloway Council, and so far we've only had an acknowledgement that it's been received – no update since.

We completely understand councils are busy and these things take time, but we're keen to keep things moving so we can get on with the work and open as soon as possible for the village.

So today we've written to our local MSP, Finlay Carson For Galloway And West Dumfries, asking if he can help find out what's happening with the application and give it a nudge.

We'll keep you updated as soon as we hear anything. Thanks so much for sticking with us on this journey, it means the world to see how much support there is for bringing a pub back to Port William.

Annabelle & Dean
p.s. See you at Carnival week

30/06/2026

Update time! We've been a bit quiet the last few weeks, but lots has been happening behind the scenes.

Our building warrant application has officially been submitted, and it's been passed over to North Lanarkshire Council to handle. Their standard target is 35 working days before they even come back to us with questions, so we're not expecting to hear anything until around the 21st of July at the earliest.

We're sure there'll be a few queries when they do get in touch, and we'll be jumping on those as fast as we possibly can. The sooner we get through that stage, the sooner we can get into the building and start the renovation properly.

I won't pretend I'm being patient about it. I want this moving!

In other news, it's nearly Carnival week, and we'll be heading up with Cheryl, Dean's sister, who'll be moving up to run the pub alongside her partner Andy.

Really excited to have her up there and getting a feel for the building and her future home ahead of all the building work.

Behind the scenes we've got our electrician, plumber and solar installer lined up, alongside our brilliant builders, all ready to get started the moment we get the green light from the council.

As soon as that warrant comes through, it's all systems go.

Will keep you all posted as soon as we hear anything from North Lanarkshire Council. Thank you for sticking with us!