Scotland’s community-owned pub scene is on the rise, with the number of trading venues doubling from six to twelve in just three years. This growth comes thanks to a partnership between the Scottish Government’s Scottish Rural Network and charity Plunkett UK.
The movement isn’t slowing down either – the number of communities actively looking to own their local has jumped from 22 to 40 groups during the same period. These groups are spread across Scotland, from Orkney all the way down to South Ayrshire, with many in remote rural areas.
Since 2022, Plunkett has handed out 21 early-stage grants of up to £2,000 each to help communities get started. The money covers essentials like property valuations, legal paperwork, community events, and publicity.
Diane Cameron, Community Business Manager at Plunkett, says, “We are thrilled to have provided valuable support for a growing number of community pub groups. Costs are unavoidable and can be hard to meet at early stages of their project. Early-stage grants remove this barrier which is most acutely felt by low income communities.”
These pubs are doing much more than just serving pints as Diane Cameron, explains, “We have seen time and again how Scottish community-owned pubs offer a range of fantastic benefits to residents. These include being winter ‘warm spaces’ with free soup, tea and coffee for anyone dropping in, and low fee Kids’ Clubs after school that include food.
“Some pubs offer low-priced meals using local food suppliers, which benefits the local economy, they host meeting and workspaces, music concerts and film screenings, they provide jobs and experience for younger people, and bring social cohesion and mental health benefits for everyone.”
Among the projects supported by the Scottish Pubs Partnership include the King’s Arms in Ballantrae, which offers free homemade soup and hot drinks to anyone who drops in during winter, and the Swan Inn in Banton, running affordable kids’ clubs with meals and community cinema nights.
On the Isle of Arran, the Lochranza Country Inn now stays open year-round for the first time, giving locals somewhere warm to socialise even after tourist season ends.
Meanwhile, over in New Luce, a local teenager who started working in the Kenmuir Arms kitchen at 15 was recently recognised in Plunkett’s Rural Community Business Awards.
Picture: The Kings Arms, -Ballantrae Community Pub and Hub