The Buf in Prestwick is set to reopen for what its new owners describe as “one final run”, giving the popular Main Street pub a temporary return before it is transformed into a new venue.
The pub closed on August 2, shortly after the Prestfest music festival, following what was described as a difficult decision to cease trading. The closure left customers, friends and supporters heartbroken after a decade of service.
Now, the doors are due to open again on Saturday, August 29. The temporary reopening will be led by long-term manager Chris Cole, with the venue returning in its familiar form until work begins on the building.
Golf-X takeover brings new plans
Golf-X in Ayr has taken over The Buf and plans to begin a major transformation on January 2, 2027. The new owners say builders will move in on that date to create a brand-new venue.
Golf-X is based on Arthur Street in Ayr, where it introduced golf and darts simulators when it opened to the public on April 12 last year. The venue was opened by the team behind Glasgow restaurant Chateau-X, with bosses investing a six-figure sum in the South Ayrshire site.
Golf-X co-founders Cristiano Simeone and Scott Hannah are behind the takeover and the planned redevelopment. The company has been approached for comment.
A final farewell for the Prestwick pub
In a social-media statement, The Buf said the new owners did not want the landmark venue to remain empty for the rest of the year. It described The Buf as a local institution and said the reopening would provide the farewell it deserved.
“The team behind Golf-X has recently taken over, and the rumours are true: on January 2, 2027, the builders are moving in to completely transform the building into a brand-new venue.”
The statement said the pub would operate as customers remembered it, with no changes to the décor or atmosphere during the final period. It invited people to return for “a few months of madness” before the next chapter begins.
The reopening means The Buf will have a short-term future between its August closure and the start of the redevelopment. Customers will be able to see the venue return under Chris Cole’s management before the building changes hands fully for its next phase.
The Buf previously thanked the customers, friends and supporters who had visited during its ten years in the community. The latest announcement offers those supporters an opportunity to return before the familiar pub disappears and the Golf-X plans take shape.