Budget boost for Knoydart pub buyout group

Community buyout plans for The Forge Pub in Knoydart received new impetus last week when they received £ 219,096 in funding from Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s UK budget.

The set was awarded directly to the Old Forge Community Benefit Society, formed by a group of local residents, from the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund established to enable local communities to own and manage valuable local community assets.

Welcoming the news of this most recent funding, Scottish Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands region, Jamie Halcro Johnston, said: ‘This funding is a tremendous boost from the UK government to a very deserving local project. .

“The people of Knoydart have worked extremely hard to save their local pub – and I can’t wait to see the benefits The Old Forge will bring to the area and the community.

“This investment shows the support and security that even Scotland’s most remote communities gain from being part of a strong UK.”

Last month the company announced it had received £ 508,000 through the Scottish Land Fund (SLF) to support the pub’s purchase and redevelopment, while an additional £ 256,035 was raised through an offer community sharing.

The venue, Britain’s furthest pub, is in the market for deals over £ 425,000, but that figure does not include the owner’s asking price for the goodwill of the business.

This additional funding will allow residents to purchase The Old Forge, redevelop the pub in a sustainable manner and boost tourism to the area.

The Company will shortly be launching a crowdfunding campaign to cover the additional costs.