Scottish Highlands community secures funds to buy their local pub

A community in the Scottish Highlands is celebrating after securing the funds to buy their local pub whose original structure pre-dates 1746.

The historic Glenuig Inn in Lochaber was built on the site of a building burned down by government soldiers hunting for Bonne Prince Charlie after the Jacobite uprising.

It has become a traditional ‘ceilidh house’ over the years, a place where  trad and folk musicians gather to play. 

Residents of Glenuig have been trying to raise enough money through crowdfunding to make an offer for the property.

Now a grant of nearly £353,000 from the Scottish Land Fund will allow the community to buy the site with Glenuig Community Inn Ltd confirming plans to continue operating the inn as a pub, restaurant and accommodation.

The remarkable milestone confirms what locals have long believed – big things can happen in small places.

Alongside the incredible share offer response – with more than £300,000 raised from more than 500 investors – the campaign brought in £13,700 through Crowdfunder rewards and a further £4,100 in direct online donations.

‘We’re absolutely over the moon,’ said Helen MacRae, Chair of Glenuig Community Inn Benefit Society.

‘To reach our share target, smash our fundraising goals, and secure SLF support –  it’s just phenomenal. We can’t thank everyone enough.’

The grant is one of 10 totaling £1,453,569 announced today by the Scottish Land Fund.

Fundraisers said the success means that Glenuig is now officially ‘Scotland’s first fully community-run mainland village.’

 From the village hall to the village shop, the broadband and now the Glenuig Inn, the last piece of the jigsaw – the people of Glenuig are building a shared future together.

‘This is just wonderful news,’ Peter Langhorne, Chair, Glenuig Community Inn, said.

‘We will now be able to buy the Inn which we have been leasing and operating for the last four months.

‘The Glenuig community has a long history of developing and managing community assets but this really is the ‘cherry on the cake.’

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary, Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, said: ‘Vibrant community spaces are the lifeblood of our towns and villages- places where people can meet, access services, and simply enjoy being together. 

‘The latest awards from the Scottish Land Fund will deliver exactly that; welcoming, reliable facilities offering childcare, recreation and wider opportunities for local people.’

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