It looks like two Scottish community pubs are a step closer to reopening following grants by the Scottish Land Fund (SLF) which is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.
The community at Sandbank in Argyll, have been awarded a grant of £147,411 to fund a buyout of their local pub, the Oakbank Hotel while Morebattle Community Hub and Pub will acquire the Templehall Hotel in the village of Morebattle in the Scottish Borders.
The Oakbank Community Inn Sandbank (OCIS) at the Holy Loch will purchase the pub with the grant and have launched an additional fundraising campaign through a share scheme to cover the costs of renovation work.
Sue McKillop of OCIS said, “This has been a challenging 18-month long odyssey. We are all delighted by the outcome and very grateful to SLF for the award and to current owner Greg Devine for his support and patience throughout.
“The SLF award will fund 95% of the asking price as well as provide money for a part-time development worker for a year and essential repair and conveyancing fees. In this current financial climate we are very fortunate to have been successful in being awarded this amount.
“Now the hard work starts! We will be launching a share scheme very shortly. The money that is raised from the sale of shares will be used for the 5% shortfall in the asking price will allow us to carry out the essential work needed before we open in 2025 as Oakbank Community Inn Sandbank.
“With the land opposite the pub recently purchased by Scenic Sandbank to create a community garden, we will have the ability to reduce ‘food miles’ into food metres through the supply of locally grown produce.
“We have lost so many fantastic venues in this area in recent years. Hopefully our success will encourage and inspire other communities to pull together and save their local hostelries and other assets.
“The Oakbank Inn is more than a pub, it’s a community hub,” added Sue.
Meanwhile the Morebattle Community Pub Steering Group have an agreement in principle to purchase the Templehall for £260,000 following contributions from the SLF and South of Scottish Enterprise, the latter contributed £80,500. However they have set themselves a target of raising a further £50,000 by 31st January 2025 through a community share issue. Its ultimate target is £75,000 to cover immediate alterations and working capital, with a stretch goal of £100,000 to support further improvements. The Templehall Hotel in Morebattle near Kelso has been around for more than 250 years and was put up for sale in 2022. The Templehall Inn will run it as a community owned hub and pub with visitor accommodation, which will protect its important role as an informal social space and economic asset for the area.