Find more funding
There are many other organisations who may be offering funding that will help you, and our handy funding search tool brings them all together.
Community Ownership Brings Oakbank Inn Back to Life as Pub Reopens in Sandbank
Grassroots campaign secures the future of the 19th‑century pub, now restored as a thriving social hub for Sandbank.
The Oakbank Inn, a historic Argyll pub that had stood empty for almost three years, has officially reopened under community ownership, marking a major milestone for residents of Sandbank and the wider Holy Loch area.
The revival follows an ambitious grassroots campaign led by Oakbank Community Inn Sandbank (OCIS), a community‑run organisation formed in 2022 to save the building and restore it as a social hub for the village.
OCIS secured a significant Scottish Land Fund grant to purchase the building, enabling the community to take control of the 19th‑century inn and begin extensive renovation work. Volunteers and more than 200 local shareholders spent months transforming the interior, redesigning the bar area, and preparing the venue for reopening. Their efforts culminated in a successful pre‑Christmas launch, with the pub welcoming customers again in December.
The Oakbank Inn has been a fixture of Sandbank life since the 1860s, serving generations of families, workers, and visitors connected to the Holy Loch. Its closure left a noticeable gap in the community, and the reopening under local ownership represents both the preservation of a historic building and the restoration of a vital meeting place. OCIS describes its mission as creating “more than a pub—a community hub,” reflecting its long‑term vision for the site.
National attention has also turned to the project. A feature in The Guardian highlighted the Oakbank as part of a growing movement of community‑owned pubs across Scotland, noting that the Sandbank effort reflects a wider trend of rural communities taking control of essential local assets. The article described the Oakbank’s reopening as a “symbol of resilience” and emphasised the importance of such venues in combating social isolation and supporting local economies.
Since reopening, the Oakbank has already hosted a series of well‑attended events, including festive gatherings, live music, and community activities designed to bring people back together after years without a local pub. Early feedback from customers has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing relief and excitement at having a social focal point restored to the village.
OCIS committee members stress that the reopening is only the beginning. Plans are underway to expand the pub’s role as a community asset, including the introduction of food service once kitchen refurbishments are complete, a broader programme of social events, and opportunities for local groups to use the space. The organisation continues to encourage new volunteers and shareholders to join the project, highlighting that long‑term sustainability depends on ongoing community involvement.
For many in Sandbank, the return of the Oakbank Inn is both a celebration of heritage and a testament to what collective action can achieve. The pub’s revival—driven not by private investors but by the people who live in and around the village—has restored a sense of pride and connection. As the Oakbank settles into its new chapter, residents are looking forward to building on the momentum of its reopening and ensuring the pub remains at the heart of community life for generations to come.
