Scottish Rural Network support helping communities take ownership of local pubs

Targeted funding backed by the Scottish Rural Network (SRN) is continuing to support communities across rural and island Scotland to take control of valued local pubs, helping to safeguard essential services and strengthen community resilience.

As many islands and rural areas face rising costs, reduced services and increasing social isolation, community ownership is proving to be a practical and effective solution. By bringing pubs into local control, communities are not only saving important amenities but also creating opportunities for employment, social connection and local economic growth.

The programme, delivered by Plunkett UK with support from the Scottish Government’s SRN, provides tailored business advice, training opportunities and peer-to-peer learning. This hands-on support helps community groups navigate what can often be a complex journey towards ownership and long-term sustainability. Currently, around 30 communities across Scotland are being supported to explore or progress plans to take ownership of their local pub. Notably, many of these groups are based in remote and very remote rural areas, where access to services and social spaces is often limited and the loss of a pub can have a significant impact on community life.

The growth of the community pub sector highlights increasing confidence in this model. There are now 19 community-owned pubs operating in rural Scotland—more than triple the number recorded five years ago. Over the past year alone, three community-owned pubs began trading, with a further site purchased and preparing to reopen. Recent success stories demonstrate the wide-ranging benefits of community ownership. Pubs such as The Crosswater in Barrhill (Ayrshire), The Oakbank Community Inn in Sandbank (Argyll & Bute), and The Templehall Hotel in Morebattle (Scottish Borders) have all reopened under community control. These venues now provide vital social hubs, year-round services and local employment opportunities.

In Dumfries & Galloway, The Brig Inn in Brydekirk has also been purchased by the community and is currently being redeveloped. Plans for the site go beyond a traditional pub, with proposals including a café, an essentials shop and social housing—demonstrating how community ownership can deliver broader benefits tailored to local needs.

Community-owned pubs are playing a particularly important role in addressing social isolation and improving wellbeing. In many rural and island areas, they provide one of the few accessible spaces where residents of all ages can meet, take part in activities and maintain social connections. They also contribute to local economies. On average, a community pub supports around 11 full-time equivalent jobs, often providing employment opportunities in areas where options can be limited. In addition, these businesses frequently prioritise fair work and local supply chains, helping to keep money circulating within the community.

The continued investment in this programme reflects a growing recognition of community ownership as a sustainable model that supports economic resilience, social wellbeing and the long-term viability of rural places. By enabling communities to take control of important local assets, SRN and Plunkett UK are helping ensure that vital services and spaces remain at the heart of rural life.

Read the full story and learn more about Plunkett UK:
https://plunkett.co.uk/targeted-funding-supports-scottish-communities-to-take-control-pubs/