On a crisp, clear winter's night, a warm glow emanated from a historic building on the shores of the Holy Loch. The Oakbank Community Inn in the Argyll village of Sandbank was buzzing for its grand reopening, marking the triumphant end of a three-year community campaign to save its local.
A Village's Fight to Save Its Social Heart
The landmark Oakbank Inn, a fixture in Sandbank for 160 years, closed at the end of 2022, a casualty of the post-pandemic struggle faced by many hospitality businesses. The subsequent closure of the nearby Holy Loch inn left the rural community without a pub—a devastating blow to its social fabric.
In early 2023, a determined group of locals formed a committee, chaired by Sue McKillop, and embarked on the arduous mission to buy the pub. "It's been an uphill struggle," admits founding committee member Ian MacNaughton. "I just didn't think the hill would be so steep!"
Their persistence was rewarded in December with a Scottish Land Fund grant of just under £150,000, covering most of the purchase price. In January, a community share offer raised over £23,000 and an "inspiring amount of enthusiasm." By April, they had the keys, and countless volunteer hours were poured into renovations ahead of the festive opening.
More Than a Pub: A Lifeline for the Community
For development officer Dawn Petherick, the vision extends far beyond pulling pints. "Whatever the community wants – knitting groups, book clubs, exhibitions, 'sober nights' – it should be a hub more than a pub," she explains. "Somewhere to alleviate social isolation."
This role is more critical than ever, with the nearby Strone Inn across the bay also set to close by year's end. While supportive, its owner Stephen Mitchell issued a sobering warning: "The hard work starts now as things are really tough."
Committee chair Sue McKillop acknowledges the challenges ahead. "It's exciting but a wee bit scary," she says. "We are under no illusions... we will need to keep innovating in order to survive." However, the model shows promise: according to charity Plunkett UK, community-owned businesses have a 98% five-year survival rate.
Ambitious Plans for a Bright Future
The community's ambitions don't stop at the bar. Future plans include:
- Refurbishing the upstairs accommodation.
- Creating a studio and gallery space in the adjoining cottage.
- Renovating the commercial kitchen to serve hyper-local produce from Sandbank's community-owned garden opposite.
- Rebuilding a rotten deck and constructing a bridge to connect to the Holy Loch marina below.
The pub's stunning location is a key asset, with big glass doors at the back offering views across the loch to the Cowal hills—and to its regular non-human patrons, a group of Atlantic grey seals that haul out on the slipway.
For locals like haberdasher Debbie Rycroft, enjoying a pint with her family on opening night, the victory is simple and profound. It's the return of a vital social space, a community triumph, and a perfect toast to the future.
