A COMMUNITY has come together to in a bid to purchase the last remaining pub in their village.

The Kings Arms in Ballantrae is set to become more than a pub, with villagers planning to transform into a community resource, if they manage to buy it.

The pub could be owned by The Ballantrae Trust thanks to a major boost of £263,493 from the Scottish Land Fund which they intend to use to purchase, refurbish, develop and manage the Kings Arms.

The Trust hope the last pub in Ballantrae will provide a new flexible space for residents and visitors to meet and socialise, to learn about the villages heritage and to view work by local craftspeople and artists.

Carol Bell, chair, of the Ballantrae Trust, said: “This is fantastic news. Along with the grant funding they are providing, the trust the Land Fund have shown by making this award, will help us to turn into reality our dream of developing the historic Kings Arms as a community pub and hub at the centre of village life.”

Whilst the funds are substantial, the cost of repairs and refurbishment at the Kings Arms will exceed the generous Land Fund award.

So as an extra boost from the Carrick Futures and Ballantrae Community Fund, they have been awarded a further £15,000 and £10,000 towards the project.

A spokesperson for the Ballantrae Trust added: “In these troubled times restrictions around COVID-19 will necessarily feature in the Ballantrae Trust’s detailed plans for the future.

“However, there is no doubting their determination to ensure that this historic building has a central place in the life of their village and its people.”

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