February 13, 2013
Nick of time
Deadlines can be useful for concentrating the mind. For the community of Tweedsmuir in the Scottish Borders, 31st Dec was the deadline that had been looming large all last year. Since the Scottish Government had approved its application for the right to buy the historic Borders pub, The Crook Inn, the community have worked tirelessly to raise the purchase price of £160,000. Having tried every trick in the fundraising book, the total raised was still some way short as Hogmanay approached.
13/02/13
BBC news website
The building housing what was one of Scotland’s oldest pubs could be saved, after local residents raised enough money to buy the property.
The Crook Inn at Tweedsmuir, which dates back to the 17th century, was closed almost six years ago.
A community campaign to raise £160,000 to save the hostelry site hit its target, hours ahead of a deadline set at the end of 2012.
The Borders community now wants to raise another £1m to renovate the inn.
The Crook Inn – first licensed in 1604 – shut in 2006 and plans were lodged to turn it into accommodation.
The proposals, put forward by its owner, were rejected by Scottish Borders Council and that decision was upheld by the Scottish government after a public hearing.
Local residents have campaigned for years to reopen the property as a gathering place, and a deal was struck for a community buyout of the premises.
For more information on why the Crook Inn means so much to this community and some photographs of this historic pub, click here.