A West Highland community’s efforts to save its local pub have been celebrated in the Scottish Parliament.
The Glenuig Inn, on the remote Lochaber coast an hour’s drive west of Fort William, dates back to 1745, but was under threat of closure until community organisations, the Highland Council and business planning advisors joined forces to raise £300,000 – matching a grant from the Scottish Land Fund – to bring it into community ownership.
Those efforts have now been recognised by the Scotland Loves Local Awards, where the pub was a finalist in the Most Enterprising Community category. Community representatives attended a reception at Holyrood last week, where all awards finalists were congratulated by Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee.
Malcolm Fraser, representing the Glenuig Inn buyout committee, said: “As a wee village we’re delighted at this national recognition.
“We know how much enterprise and initiative there is here and feel we’re part of a growing movement across Scotland. We hope to justify your celebration of our work.”
From being threatened with closure, the Glenuig Inn is now said to be ‘abuzz’, with turnover above projections and Trip Advisor reviews ‘through the roof’.
As well as being a hub for local music, the Inn is said to be providing a platform from which local young people can launch careers in produce, hospitality, sea and land touring and other activities, allowing them to stay in the community.
Scotland’s Towns Partnership chief officer, Kimberley Guthrie, said: “Through Scotland Loves Local this year, we have been celebrating the fact that it’s people who make places. The achievements of the winners and finalists in our awards are testament to that fact.
“Through their vision, innovation and determination, they are helping to create a new future not only for the places they call home and work, but inspiring communities the length and breadth of the country.
“Community-led activity is at the forefront of positive change across Scotland. We have seen a real resurgence in that in recent years – and it’s critical for our economy that we keep that momentum going. Everyone can play their part in supporting that by choosing local.”
