From Derelict Cottage to Dream Pub: The Story of Westview Cottage and the Maxwell Tavern
Some stories take years to tell. Ours started long before we ever picked up a paintbrush.
Dean’s Roots
My husband Dean’s family are from Port William. His great grandparents lived in the Isle of Whithorn, just along the coast, and the connection to this part of South West Scotland runs deep in his family. Long before we owned anything here, we came back every year, often five or six times, holidaying in the area with our children as they grew up. Port William was never just a destination for us. It was something closer to home.
The Derelict Cottage
In 2021 we spotted a property on Main Street, Port William, right on the seafront. It had been empty for years and was in a serious state of disrepair. Most people would have walked away. We saw something else entirely.
We bought it, rolled up our sleeves and renovated it from scratch. We were incredibly lucky to work with some brilliant local tradesmen who became part of the story. Adam Higgins from Port William was with us throughout the build, along with Jamie McNeillie and his son Charlie from Newton Stewart who did a fantastic job on the construction. The electrics were in the very capable hands of Kenny McCreadie, now retired but a wonderful friend to us and someone we could not have done it without. It truly was a community effort, and we are grateful to every one of them. It was a labour of love in every sense of the word. Every decision, every tile, every piece of furniture was chosen with care. We wanted guests to feel like they were being welcomed into a family home, not a holiday let. We called it Westview Cottage, and it sleeps six with stunning sea views over Luce Bay.
Since opening, Westview has earned over 45 five-star reviews from guests who have fallen in love with Port William just as we did. But as wonderful as the cottage has been, something was still missing.
The Dream
Dean has always had a dream of owning a pub. Not a gastro pub, not a branded bar, but a proper local. A place where people gather, where the fire is on, where you know the landlord and they know you. The kind of pub that is at the heart of a community.
Port William has incredible holiday lets, beautiful beaches, wonderful walks and the warmest welcome you will find anywhere in Scotland. But for years, guests staying in the village’s 20 or more holiday lets have said the same thing. The one thing missing is a pub you can walk to. Every time we heard that feedback, it planted the seed a little deeper.
The Hardware Store
At the end of Main Street in Port William sat a former hardware store, owned by Simon Lynch and his wife Catherine. Dean had spoken to Simon about the building over a number of years, always with the same thought in the back of his mind. In November 2025, they shook hands on a deal and we secured the building. The Maxwell Tavern was born.
Why Maxwell?
The name is not just a nod to a family name. It is a tribute to the history of Port William itself.
The village was founded in 1770 by Sir William Maxwell of Monreith, after whom it is named. The Maxwell family owned and shaped much of this part of Wigtownshire for centuries, with their ancient estate at Monreith sitting just along the coast. Myreton Castle near Port William was a Maxwell stronghold from 1685.
Perhaps the most famous Maxwell connected to this area is Gavin Maxwell, the Scottish naturalist and author who was born at the House of Elrig, just a few miles from Port William. He is best known for Ring of Bright Water, published in 1960, which became a literary masterpiece selling over two million copies. His childhood memoir, The House of Elrig, tells the story of growing up on the Monreith estate. Maxwell’s relatives still live in the area today, and the family’s ancient estate remains at Monreith.
Naming our pub the Maxwell Tavern felt right on every level. It honours the family who built this village, celebrates its history, and connects our little corner of Port William to a story that stretches back centuries.
What the Maxwell Tavern Will Be
We want the Maxwell Tavern to be a proper village pub. Warm, welcoming, unpretentious and community focused. A place where guests staying in Port William can walk to in the evening, where locals can gather, and where the history and character of this extraordinary village is celebrated.
Planning has been approved, and the building warrant is in progress. We are aiming to open before the end of 2026, and the response from the local community has been overwhelming. Our Facebook group already has over 800 engaged followers who have been following the journey from the very beginning.
If you want to follow along as we bring the Maxwell Tavern to life, join us on Facebook and stay tuned for updates. And if you would like to stay at Westview Cottage while we get it ready, we would absolutely love to welcome you.
