Cheers! Big boost for Ballantrae
King's Arms on the A77
A NEW era beckons for the landmark King's Arms in Ballantrae.
The Ballantrae Trust has received £262,493 from the Scottish Land Fund to purchase, refurbish, develop and manage the King's Arms, the last remaining pub in the village, as a community resource. It is one of 16 groups sharing in £3,669,762 from the Scottish Land Fund.
Says the Trust: "As well as serving food and drink, the new hub and pub will provide flexible spaces for locals and visitors to meet and socialise, to learn about Ballantrae's 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."
While the amount the Trust have received from the Scottish Land Fund is substantial, repairs, refurbishment and development, along with the costs for a suitably experienced manager, will greatly exceed the Land Fund award, they say.
That is why Carrick Futures and the Ballantrae Community Fund have awarded £15,000 and £10,000 respectively as match funding to assist with the purchase, refurbishment and development of the King's Arms.
They add: "In line with nearly every village that owns its own pub, shop, or post office, the Trust will shortly be announcing the opportunity for everyone in the area, and beyond, to become involved in this exciting project, by purchasing community shares' in the new village pub and hub. They will also be looking for support of different kinds as they move into the next phase.
"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."
<< back
Published: 22 Jun 2020, 12:54