Anchor Tavern, Port Bannatyne

The committee of the Trust undertook a range of community engagement and consultationthrough community get-togethers and surveys to understand local appetite for the project and if people would be willing to invest. In addition, they researched other community pub projects to gain further understanding of what was possible.

Engaging support

Following positive responses from the community, the group accessed support to bring the project to fruition through the Scottish Community Pubs programme (a package of support to grow the pipeline of community pubs in Scotland run by the Plunkett Foundation and the Development Trusts Association Scotland). The group were initially supported by Community Shares Scotland (now Democratic Finance Scotland with their governance and community benefit society (CBS) registration, enabling them to raise funds using community shares, and advised on their Scottish Land Fund application (SLF) for a grant towards the purchase of the pub. The Plunkett Foundation provided sector specific advice, guidance and documentationaround running a pub including asset valuations, and seller services.

The Share Offer

Throughout early 2021, the group worked on their Scottish Land Fund application and planning their community share offer. DTAS’ Democratic Finance team supported the group to develop their share offering and business plan, community engagement and provided a microgrant to cover marketing costs for the share offer. The Trust kept the community informed and engaged throughout using their social media, face to face meet ups and newsletters.

The share offer launched in November 2021, with a well-publicised and supported campaign running for around a month and raising over £100,000. Coupled with a successful award from the Scottish Land Fund of £150,000 the community were able to purchase the pub.

The Takeover

In February 2022 the Trust finally took ownership of the pub and after some refurbishments and improvements to the frontage and a huge community effort to get the space ready, were open by the Spring.  

Since then, the pub and the Trust have gone from strength to strength. The pub has been offering “Warm Welcome Wednesday” – a weekly warm meal and chance to socialise foranyone in the community who needs it, a pub quiz night and music events. A community garden has been created to the rear of the pub and refurbishment of the adjoining Community Hub and neighbouring building will also host the Trusts’s next project – bringing a bakery back to the area run by two local women, further strengthening community cohesion, sustainability and vibrancy in the area.

This pub is special. It’s the heart of the port. There isn’t another pub here. Not for quite a way. So everybody comes here and everybody knows everybody, you can come in and even if you’re on your own, you’re not alone. There’s always going to be someone or a friend sitting in here.

Local Resident & investor