The future of a Twynholm licenced premises is hanging in the balance after its sale fell through.
Owner Suzie Thorpe thought she had pulled her last pint at the popular Star Hotel after 14 years.
But the potential buyers pulled the plug on the deal at the last minute leaving her in limbo.
Suzie had been planning to spend more time with her family.
Now she’s trying to salvage what she can but the bar and restaurant – which closed last week – remain mothballed.
Accommodation bookings are still being taken but the Star’s three-room annex is being let on a room-only basis.
Suzie, 50, told the News: “I’m just focusing at keeping the hotel side of things going.
“I have made promises and commitments to my family to spend more time with them.
“That has to be my priority and I just can’t face starting up all over again.”
Prospects for the Star looked bleak when a “heartbroken” Suzie broke the sad news on social media.
Since then messages of support from loyal customers and further afield have poured in.
And the community response has encouraged Suzie, from Dunscore, to look at ways of reopening the pub part-time.
She said: “As you can imagine everything is up in the air.
“I am looking at keeping the pub side of things going.
“There is a possibility we could work out how to do that.
“There are quite a few people I will be speaking to in the next wee while to see if a community pub is an option.
“But we do have to take the licensing implications into consideration.”
A couple with whom Suzie is friendly have moved into the hotel as caretakers.
They will look after the premises until they move to a new house.
The temporary arrangement has given Suzie a little time to explore the next step.
She said: “I have not given up – although sometimes I feel like running away.
“We are looking at ways of making it work but the detail just now is taking a bit of sorting through.
“At the back of my mind there is the community to think of as well.
“The voices of support have been amazing and Twynholm is a great wee community.
“But after 14 years I really need to put myself first this time.”
