A growing number of community-owned pubs are breathing new life into Scotland’s remote, rural villages, as seen in two new videos co-produced by Plunkett UK and Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS), which showcase community life on the Isle of Bute and in West Fife.
Head to The Anchor Tavern in Port Bannatyne on the Isle of Bute for Warm Welcome Wednesdays and be offered homemade soup and cake from volunteers. The pub has also taken on the adjacent vacant building as a pop-up wine bar and restaurant, engaging different local catering businesses, and given a lease to a small bakery.
Well known for supporting other local businesses and suppliers, The Red Lion at Culross in West Fife also has its own micro-brewery, and gives young people from the village their first taste of work. The pub has also established a local community fund offering small grants to local good causes.
These are just two examples of a project that receives support from the Scottish Government’s Scottish Rural Network. During the last year, Plunkett has awarded 17 early-stage development grants of up to £2,000 each to Scottish rural and island community pub groups.
Scottish Government funding will continue to support the project for the next year.
The project’s work has resulted in a doubling in the number of open and trading community-owned pubs in Scotland over this time, with 16 such pubs now in operation. In the same period, the number of communities activity seeking ownership in the network has increased from 22 to 42 groups.
Plunkett offers free, specialist business adviser support to rural groups in Scotland who are exploring community ownership.
“It is exciting to see the difference that community-owned pubs in rural and island Scotland are having on people of all ages and backgrounds in their local areas. Their inclusivity shines through! Thank you to the Scottish Government’s Scottish Rural Network, whose support is enabling the transformation of communities across the country.”
Diane Cameron, Plunkett’s Community Business Manager
The Anchor Tavern, Port Bannatyne
Jenny O’Hagen, Chair of the Port Bannatyne Development Trust, which owns the Anchor Tavern, says, “We received fantastic support from Plunkett. They provided us with advice and a wealth of information that allowed us to set up this pub on a good footing. We were very grateful.”
Rachel Perry, a staff member at the Anchor, says, “This pub is special. It’s the heart of the port. Everybody comes here and even if you’re on your own, you’re not alone. There’s always going to be someone you know or a friend sitting in here.”
Garry Charnock is founder member of the Trust, and explains, “Wherever possible, we find tradespeople on the island to work on the pub to keep the money in the local economy, so that investment goes back into the community.”
Garry adds, “Our community pub has been recognised across the island and a group has been set up to look at the entire development of Bute. Now we have the pub, the hub and the bakery up and running, we are asking how else we can increase the vibrancy of the Port Bannatyne community?”
The Red Lion at Culross
Steve Wood, Chair of the West Fife Community Benefit Society, says, “We were very fortunate that Plunkett, along with Community Shares Scotland and the Scottish Land Fund, provided us with some fantastic advice and support during the process of taking on ownership of the pub. Without it we probably would have failed.”
Local dairy farmer, Lynn Nelson supplies ice cream to the Red Lion, and says, “They were one of our first customers and they’ve been very supportive since. My husband and I have invested in community shares because we thought it was very important to do so. We were worried that the pub was going to get sold to developers and we’d lose the last pub in the village.”
The Red Lion pub group has a plan to raise money to build a pavilion that would initiate some sport facilities and support local artists. Steve Wood says, “With the Scottish Government committing more support for community businesses, we’re in a good space. For the Red Lion, the future looks bright as we look to expand out of being more than just a pub.”
“Community ownership has been a vital support to many areas across Scotland and is an investment in tackling depopulation, providing crucial facilities, and giving people more power and a stake in the land where they live and work. The Scottish Rural and Islands Community Pubs Network is helping to build a pipeline of community owned pubs in rural and island communities and a support network to share learning, sustainability advice and employment opportunities.
“Over the last five years, the Scottish Government has invested £190,000 to support the Scottish Rural and Islands Community Pubs Network and a further £50,000 has been confirmed in 2025/26 to continue this important service. We look forward to continuing to work with Plunkett UK and partners to assess the potential of these assets and bring them back into use for the benefit of rural and island communities.”
Mairi Gougeon MSP, Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs
“The programme has become an invaluable resource for Scotland’s expanding network of community-owned pubs. It has empowered community groups to access expert advice and funding, share knowledge, and build the confidence needed to take their ideas forward.
“In addition, our Democratic Finance programme adds further value to the network by offering targeted support around democratic governance models and citizen-led approaches to raising finance and funding. We’re seeing community pub groups explore more inclusive and sustainable ways to structure ownership and secure investment as a result of our input.”
Morven Lyon, Head of Development Trusts Association Scotland
Watch the videos
The video case studies of the Anchor Tavern and Red Lion community pubs have been produced by Plunkett and our partners DTAS, with funding from the Scottish Government’s Scottish Rural Network. You can watch the videos by clicking the buttons below.
We are here to help!
In 2025-26, the Scottish Rural Network is continuing to fund Plunkett’s ongoing delivery of community business adviser support to Scottish groups involved in community-owned businesses in Scotland. Contact us by emailing info@plunkett.co.uk or calling 01993 630022.
