The Wigtown Ploughman, Wigtown’s community-owned pub and hotel, is celebrating its first full year of operation.
While the full vision for the project will take several years to realise, the first year has been about laying strong foundations for the future. The team behind the Wigtown Community Inn Community Benefit Society (WCICBS) is proud of the progress made so far and the solid base that has been created for the years ahead.
From the outset, the aim was about much more than simply reopening a pub. The project set out to save an important building and preserve a valued community asset. The Wigtown Ploughman has been part of Wigtown’s story for generations – a recognisable landmark with a long history of offering hospitality to locals and visitors alike.
The vision for the project was to create a central focal point for town life and to help re-ignite the local economy and community spirit. Today The Wigtown Ploughman provides a flexible, multi-purpose space that supports social, cultural and leisure activities for people of all ages.
A key part of that community role is the WCICBS drop-in sessions held every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning from 10am to 2pm. Run by a team of dedicated volunteers, these sessions offer a warm and welcoming space with a wide range of activities including memory clinics, games, reading areas and a quiet place for people to meet, chat and enjoy a cup of tea and a biscuit. Monthly visits from volunteers also provide valuable services for those with limited access to transport – from simple practical help such as glasses repairs to activities designed to promote mental health and wellbeing.
Alongside its community work, the pub itself has quickly become a popular destination for both locals and visitors. With its cosy atmosphere and welcoming fire, guests can relax with locally brewed craft ales or a drink of their choice from the well-stocked bar. The Wigtown Ploughman now serves bar meals throughout the week and, with the recent arrival of a new chef, evening meals are available at least four nights a week.
Live music has also become an important part of the pub’s calendar, with performances covering a range of genres. The Wigtown Ploughman also hosted its first Wigtoberfest beer festival last year, which proved to be a great success and will become a regular annual event to celebrate local produce.
The project has also created much-needed local employment, with the business now employing 12 people – a figure expected to grow as the pub continues to develop. The pub is also a big advocate of supporting local businesses, especially those who are producing excellent drinks and ingredients so that the best local produce is used to create a magnificent experience to showcase the region.
Accommodation has also recently launched, with a three-bedroom self-catering flat now available and bookable through Booking.com or directly. Early guests have already been enjoying their stay and providing very positive feedback.
The team behind The Wigtown Ploughman say none of this would have been possible without the support of the local community and the organisations that helped bring the project to life. They are particularly grateful to everyone who has given their time, skills and resources to help get the pub back open and to those who continue to support it today.
To mark the first anniversary, The Wigtown Ploughman will be hosting a special celebration on 28 March, with a 1950s-themed night featuring live music and a buffet. Everyone is welcome to come along and join the festivities.
And while much has already been achieved, the project is far from finished. The next stage will focus on developing the letting rooms further and continuing to build on The Wigtown Ploughman’s role as a hub for the town.
If you haven’t visited yet, you are warmly invited to pop in and see what’s happening. To follow the story and keep up with events, visit The Wigtown Ploughman on Facebook.