However, on Saturday, March 9, the old Boosey Creek Tavern reopened as the new Boosey Creek Tavern and Tin Shed Bistro.
Talking to The Courier, Shane Cridland said it was a career change that led him to reopen the old tavern.
“I just recently got out of a career in banking after 25 years, but I have experience managing hospitality venues," he said.
Alongside his partner Jamie Noonan, Mr Cridland bought the former tavern in January and the couple has been at the site for the past two months, ensuring everything is up to scratch.
Asked why they would open a hospitality venue in sleepy Katamatite, Mr Cridland said they were quite connected to the local community.
"I’m from Invergordan, so only eight minutes from Katamatite," he said.
"Our 11-year-old child goes to Katamite Primary School and we are pretty close with the community."
The tavern will be offering typical pub meals and drinks. However, Mr Cridland said they would come with a twist.
Mr Cridland is also hoping the tavern becomes part of the region’s music and cultural scene.
“We want this to be a local hub for musicians,” he said.
“We will always have live musicians.”
The new owners hope the tavern will become a hub for the community to relax and, by all accounts, the response to the pub's reopening has been fantastic.
“The reaction by the community has been outstanding,” Mr Cridland said.
“It has been overwhelming. We have been booked out completely on our opening weekend.”
The new owners have already boosted the local economy, hiring locals to staff the venue.
The new tavern owners plan to expand their hospitality venue to include a beer garden in the near future so people can sit outside and have a drink, and they will offer a local courtesy bus.
They have also bought the Triple Bean Cafe, which will close on Friday, March 15.
Mr Cridland said he and Mr Noonan hoped to reopen it by the end of March with the new name Boosey Creek Cafe.
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