The Oakbank Community Inn in Sandbank, near Dunoon, is set to reopen this month for the first time in almost three years, following a major community-led refurbishment project.
A new addition to Scotland’s growing network of community-owned pubs, the venue was purchased by local residents earlier this year with support from the Scottish Land Fund. Originally dating back to the 1860s, the building has long played a central role in village life.
Sue McKillop, one of the committee members leading the project, said, “While the work has been going on, we’ve organised a number of car boot sales and played host to a very popular, regular pop-up green grocers’ shop, as well as providing a location for health-related workshops and charity coffee mornings.
“There have also been some very successful quiz nights and other BYOB (bring your own booze) events that have been well supported by people from Sandbank and beyond. The level of interest in the pub has been very inspiring, as demonstrated by our recent AMM (Annual Members’ Meeting) that attracted an impressive number of shareholders and local residents.
“We are looking forward to opening the pub ‘for proper’ in December in time for Christmas. We will also be open on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve, with opening times available through our social media platforms.”
She added, “There have been so many hurdles to jump over and it’s been a big learning curve for us all as we get set to embark on a new chapter for a much loved and cherished community resource.
“We are under no illusions as to the challenges that lie ahead. Like any pub venue, we will need to keep innovating in order to survive. Many community-owned pubs fall by the wayside and we’re determined that that won’t be the case with the Oakbank.
“Our aim has always been to be a vibrant resource for the entire Sandbank community as well as for people and groups from further afield and, so far, we seem to have achieved that but we will have to keep listening to the community and the 200 or so shareholders as well as our key funders whose investment and support has made this project a reality.
“It’s exciting but all just a bit scary!”
The relaunch will include comedy and music open mic nights, with a spring stand-up competition in the pipeline. “We’ve already got plenty of comedians in these parts,” said Sue. “But we’d love to showcase up and coming talent and plan to run a stand-up comedy competition in the spring with anyone interested in taking part encouraged to get in touch.”
Development Officer Dawn Petherick, who has helped steer the project, said: “We put out a questionnaire to our shareholders and social media followers and received some great ideas and input in terms of how we can revive the pub and make it stand out as a real destination for both local people and visitors to the area.”
She added, “The feedback has been fantastic. We have a growing team of volunteers and local companies who have already committed hundreds of ‘man hours’ and we’d like to say a big thank you to each and every one of them.”
Looking ahead, the committee plans to introduce food and accommodation and install a permanent display focused on the ‘American Years’, when the US Navy was based at Holy Loch between 1961 and 1991. A gallery space for Cowal Open Studios is also under consideration.
Sue said, “We’ve achieved a lot over the past few months but there is so much more still to do. We want to take everyone in Sandbank and the surrounding areas with us on this journey. Watch this space!”
The pub will officially open on Saturday 20 December.