Share offer boosts Glenuig Inn community buyout bid

Helen MacRae, Convenor of GCI, said such a community ownership model was vital in ensuring facilities in the rural area continued to serve locals.

“Obviously we do need to make money, but our purpose is to benefit the community,” Ms MacRae said of the potential buyout, which will prioritise local improvements with any dividends.

“The inn has become the heart of the community, and we want that to continue. We don’t want somebody else to come in and turn it into housing, or something that people don’t want in the village, which there is a history of happening across the West Highlands - people arriving with a particular vision and it is just for tourists,” Ms MacRae added, noting that having the inn in the stable of community owned facilities increased opportunities for joint activities.

Although Glenuig has a strong record of community ownership, with the hall soon to enter its fourth year under the model, the challenges of running an inn has seen the community seek advice from The Old Forge in Knoydart, which became community owned in 2022.

Speakers from Community Enterprise and Community Shares Scotland have also addressed residents on how the ownership model works, and a drop-in session on the share offer was held on March 15.

Ms Yard, who took over the Glenuig Inn in 2021, has noted she favours a community buyout of the property and described her years running the inn as “a privilege”.