Following months of hard work by local people, The Oakbank Community Inn in Sandbank, near Dunoon, is getting ready to re-open its doors this weekend after almost three years out of action
The venue dates back to the 1860s and is said to have played a key role in the history of Sandbank.
However, struggling with low numbers in the wake of the Covid pandemic, the previous owner closed the pub in 2022.
The Oakbank is being reborn as one of Scotland’s newest community-owned pub ventures, having been purchased by the community of Sandbank earlier this year with the help of a substantial grant from the Scottish Land Fund.
“We are under no illusions as to the challenges that lie ahead,” said committee member Sue McKillop.
“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 wee bit scary!” added McKillop.
That committee and a dedicated team of volunteers having been working hard to get the Oakbank ready for opening on Saturday 20th December, and lining up a ‘lively schedule of events’ for its initial months.
“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,” said McKillop.
“There have also been some very successful quiz nights and other BYOB 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 Years Eve with opening times available through our social media platforms,” she said.
“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.”
Development officer Dawn Petherick, who has played a pivotal role in the venue’s resurrection, added: “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.
“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.”
