Community-Owned Oakbank Inn Reopens in Sandbank, Argyll After Three-Year Restoration
The Oakbank Inn in Sandbank, Argyll, has reopened as a community-owned pub on the Holy Loch following a three-year restoration of the 160-year-old building. The pub had closed at the end of 2022 due to difficulties experienced during the Covid era, alongside the closure of the nearby Holy Loch inn, leaving the village without a pub.
In early 2023, a community group chaired by Sue McKillop was established to purchase the Oakbank. Despite an initial funding rejection, the group secured a Scottish Land Fund grant of just under £150,000 in December, which covered most of the purchase price. In January 2025, shares were offered and raised over £23,000 toward a £90,000 target. Thousands of volunteer hours contributed to preparing the venue, and the keys were obtained by April 2025.
The pub's opening night recently saw a busy bar. The venue aims to be a social hub beyond its role as a pub, hosting activities such as knitting groups, book clubs, exhibitions, and sober nights intended to reduce social isolation.
Future plans for the Oakbank Inn include refurbishing the upstairs accommodation, adding a studio and gallery space in the adjoining cottage, and renovating the commercial kitchen. The pub will source local vegetables from a nearby community garden featuring polytunnels and raised beds. Large glass doors at the back of the bar overlook the Holy Loch, with plans to rebuild the deck and construct a bridge to the marina to improve access for boaters.
Plunkett UK highlights that community-owned pubs like the Oakbank demonstrate resilience, with about a 98% survival rate over five years. However, ongoing local challenges are evident, as the nearby Strone Inn is set to close soon.
