The group identified a disused factory premises located in the beautiful Demesne parkland that would be ideal for their needs. On approaching the owners, local couple John and Lily Murphy, they secured the lease of the building and began renting in 2009. The building was renovated with the help of Leader grant aid, and officially opened in Nov of that year. In 2016 they purchased the premises with the aid of a mortgage. The loan repayments, upkeep of the building and related projects are partly financed with rental income from permanent tenants and groups who rent the facility for short term uses. The remainder of the income needed to cover the costs are funded by events organised by committee members including a monthly Indoor Carboot Sale and seasonal events including a Christmas Craft Fair and annual ‘Chefs of Roscommon’ cookery demo night during the Castlerea Rose Festival.

In 2017 ‘An Chistin’ was added to the Hub Campus, funded by Roscommon County Council and the Department of Rural and Community Affairs. An Chistin is a primarily a 3rd Level Chef Training College and is also used for community based food events, product development and training.

In 2024 we completed a large scale project with the building of individual ‘incubation units’ destined as a launch pad for small or fledgling food businesses, and is again gratefully funded by the Department of Rural and Community Affairs. The ‘An Chistin Food Hub’ is now home to 3 start up food businesses with space available for another 4 businesses. We can work together with the Roscommon Local Enterprise Office to help interested parties to fulfil their dream of starting or expanding their food business.