Craig Hamnett

April Members’ Meeting

Hello lovely members! Hopefully you received an email about our Members’ meeting this evening – if you can, please come along to The Wigtown Ploughman (not the County Buildings) at 8pm til 9pm. We look forward to providing an update on our progress.

Minutes

1. Welcome and Apologies

Apologies were received from Peter Dobson, Caroline McLearn, Nic Passfield, and Jan Winder.

Thanks to everyone for coming. It’s been 1 month and 5 days since our last meeting—what a whirlwind! The bar opened four weeks ago, and we hope people have found it welcoming and warm. There have been no major difficulties, and things have gone smoothly.

Members are invited to suggest any improvements. Craig noted how pleased we are with the paid staff, who have hit the ground running and contributed significantly to the pub’s success. We hope they will gradually take on more responsibility, and we’re aiming to bring in additional staff.

2. Warm Space/The Lounge update

We’ve been looking for a volunteer to coordinate Lounge volunteers. A meeting took place in the Lounge today—thanks to Penni and the 12 attendees. The aim is to open the Lounge from 10am–2pm, four days a week, with volunteers doing two-hour shifts. We have a supportive bank of volunteers who will drop in to back up the two scheduled people on each shift.

No DBS checks are required, as we are not specifically catering to vulnerable adults or children. All those attending have previous voluntary experience. We hope to extend opening hours in future.

A further volunteer meeting will be held on 30th April. The Lounge will officially open on 12th May. It’s hoped the space will be used for reading, socialising, games, and accessing Wi-Fi.

Penni will need to step back from the coordinator role shortly due to a hospital procedure, but she’s confident someone from the new volunteer group will take it on.

3. Bar / Entertainment Subcommittee / planned events

Now that the bar is established, the Bar Committee has merged with the Entertainment Committee. David confirmed that the bar is now self-sustaining. There have been some changes to ales, with new options from Five Kingdoms Brewery. We’re planning a ticketed ale tasting night in collaboration with them.

Last Friday’s pub quiz went very well—Phil Hall did a fantastic job as compère.

This Sunday, we’re hosting a food offering from Toots & Co woodfired pizza oven, now based in Leswalt. Sarah is keen to work with us. The event will be “3 Ps”: Pizza, Pudding, and a Pint. Leanne and Nadine will serve Lemon Meringue Pie, Sticky Toffee Pudding, and Chocolate Brownie. Gluten-free options are available but must be pre-ordered. The pizza van will be at the back of the beer garden—thanks to the owners for granting access. Thanks also to Andi for the gardening work and for laying the gravel path.

For the 80th VE Day celebration, we’ll put up bunting and aim to commemorate the day, though options are limited due to our bar-only status.

Other ideas include a ticketed wine tasting session—possibly with grazing boxes from Toots & Co.

MSP Emma Harper recently held a surgery in the bar and was very impressed with the progress. We’ve extended the offer to other MSPs to book the space for their surgeries.

A booking system will be introduced for hiring out the Lounge and the three-bedroom flat.

4. The Cairnsmore – Self catering flat update

The Lounge Subcommittee has transitioned to focusing on decorating and furnishing the flat to let it as holiday accommodation. A £5,000 budget has been approved, drawn from the share capital. We’ve secured quality items at discounted prices, staying under budget thanks to careful planning.

Q: Andi – Will the flat remain a holiday let (not via Airbnb)?
A: Yes, it will be a six-person self-catering flat, listed on Booking.com and our website. If needed in the future to house a manager, we will review that.

The flat has its own kitchen, so meal provision is not required, which simplifies things.

Q: Andi – What’s the delay with the kitchen?
A: The delay relates to Scottish Power needing to connect us to three-phase power, which will cost around £2,000. We have three separate meters—for the kitchen, bar, and flat. Only the kitchen requires three-phase, and separate meters are useful for tracking running costs. The kitchen oven is 17kW.

The decorating group would like to name the flat The Cairnsmore. They aim to have it ready in 4–5 weeks, with items already being ordered.

Rates will be £750–£1,000 per week, which is in line with market pricing. As a six-person let, it must be high quality from the start—we can’t risk a poor review.

The Wigtown Ploughman has received 5-star reviews so far.

Once The Cairnsmore is operational, the pub may open seven days a week. This could mean extra hours and opportunities for current staff.

The share capital will also be used to support the kitchen and refurbish the four bedrooms.

Royal Mail has now updated our address to the Wigtown Ploughman (previously The Plough Inn). We also share this address with U3A, who use us as a postbox.

It’s been great seeing people playing cards and enjoying the Lounge space.

We’re exploring signage options and repainting the building frontage—members will vote on the colour scheme.

We’re very grateful to those who continue to help and check in to see what’s needed.

Nadine confirmed the coffee machine is now operational and will be available whenever the bar is open. She’ll also provide training. The machine was gifted to us after discovering our original one was beyond repair and has been scrapped. We paid £350 for the engineer’s certification. Nadine will manage bean orders and training.

We’re starting with basic coffee options, with plans to expand (including hot chocolate and flavoured teas) once the kitchen is running.

5. Financial health update

£10,000 of share capital was used to set up the bar. Sales are going well:

  • Four days in March saw £3,000 in sales
  • April-to-date shows £8,000 in sales

Even on quiet days, we’re taking around £300.

Upcoming expenses include:

  • EPOS machine (£1,700)
  • Payroll (due tomorrow)

6. Date and Time of Next Members Meeting

Tuesday 3rd June, 8PM

7. Members’ Questions, Ideas, and AOB

Q: Gillian: What about the sign?
We’re awaiting a quote from Galloway Signs. Lights for the hanging sign are in place, and the name Wigtown Ploughman will appear in lettering across the frontage. We’ve had positive feedback about allowing takeaway food and having tables outside.

Q: Will there be photos of the flat once it’s finished?
Yes—there will be photos, and probably an open day to let people see the space. Members will be involved in deciding the flat’s final appearance, as well as the front of the building. We’ll have marketing leaflets and ask members to help spread the word.

Q: Rebecca: Have we contacted VisitScotland?
Craig: Not yet, but we are in touch with SSDA (South of Scotland Destination Alliance), who focus on this area. A marketing committee may be formed. People are already visiting Wigtown based on recommendations from Ben and Beth during their tours. We’ll speak with them about helping us spread the word, and marketing efforts will be broadened.

Q: How much will the pizzas cost?
Around £12 for a large woodfired pizza.

Q: What are the bar prices?
All pints are £5 or under.

Q: Can we speed up the Scottish Power connection?
It was suggested that we contact our MP to help push for the connection.

AGM: Likely to take place in July.

Meeting closed at 9PM with thanks to all who attended.

Scotland’s newest community-owned pub is officially open

The Wigtown Ploughman is Scotland’s newest community-owned pub. It’s led by a Management Committee of ten volunteers who are part of the Wigtown Community Inn Community Benefit Society. We have been working this past year to secure funding for the building, which has been empty for three years and was at risk of being lost as a community asset. We were fortunate enough that SOSE (South of Scotland Enterprise) approved our funding request to enable the purchase of the building for £330,000, and we finally got the keys on Valentines Day, 2025.

Pictured left to right: Julie Willan, Craig Hamnett, Kate Brown, David Cannon, Tracey Warman, and Peter Dobson. Other management committee members not pictured: Pennie Cumming, George Moore, Nadine McGaw, Gillian Wray.

We’ve since had an army of volunteers working hard behind the scenes, and amazing local businesses donating pieces of equipment, providing brilliant trade services, and working together all to get the pub up and running and open to the public. We also have nearly 450 Members of the society who have been a massive source of support, feedback, and ideas. They have also invested in the project and raised £31,234 when our Community Share Offering closed earlier in March. That has enabled the project to progress as rapidly as it has. We’ll also be a “Real Living Wage” employer and have just had the first round of interviews for bar staff and are hoping to announce the first employees very soon.

David McAdam MBE – Scad working in the same pub 47 years ago

Our opening night is planned for 6pm on Friday 28th March, and we are honoured and delighted to have a very special guest joining us. Wigtown local hero David McAdam MBE, warmly known as Scad to everyone in the community, will be joining us to pour the first ceremonial pint. Scad worked in the pub in the 1970s when it was called The Commercial Inn, and is thrilled to be back behind the bar once again! The Wigtown Ploughman will thereafter be open from Thursday through to Sunday, 3pm – 11pm, and we will look to expand our opening hours as the year progresses.

This project is more than just a pub, however. The same building will also be used as a community space from Monday-Friday, 11am – 3pm, affectionately called The Lounge. We’re hoping to open The Lounge from the 14th April if we have enough volunteers to help be stewards of that space. It will be a welcoming, free-to-access place where people can come to stay warm, connect with others, enjoy a hot drink, play boardgames, read the newspaper, or just relax and feel at home away from home. There is free WiFi for those who would also like to stay digitally connected. It will be run by a group of exceptional volunteers who will do their best to make visitors feel welcome. Outside the regular Lounge opening hours (and when the bar is closed or quiet), the space can also be booked by members of the community or social groups. Beyond physical warmth, the warm space will also provide a sense of belonging, safety, and community.

Kirsten Logue, Community Development Specialist at SOSE said:

“SOSE is delighted to support the acquisition of The Wigtown Ploughman.

The high level of engagement from local volunteers, businesses, members, and community shareholders is a fantastic demonstration of the power of community-led enterprise.

SOSE continues to support the Community Benefit Society with support and guidance and looks forward to working with them as they open the Community Space and the lettable rooms.”

We hope to have the accommodation up and running in the coming months, creating further employment opportunities, and our aim is then to design a food offering that entices locals and tourists alike. Our goal is ultimately to foster an environment of excellence and be able to offer hospitality and catering apprenticeships through partnerships with Dumfries and Galloway College.

This community-led project is just getting started, and we plan to be here in the heart of Wigtown for generations to come.

March Members’ Meeting

Hello lovely members! Hopefully you received an email about our Members’ meeting this evening – if you can, please come along to the County Buildings (the supper room upstairs, not the main hall this time) at 8pm til 9pm. We look forward to providing an update on the progress of the bar, the Community Hub, and a few other things before we open up for drinks on March 28th at 6pm!

Agenda

1. Welcome and Apologies
Apologies received from Penelope Cumming. 25 Members present and 7 committee members.

Craig gave grateful thanks for the continued support of members attending the meeting. Thanks were given for the support being received from all the members, and the continued trust in the committee.

2. Volunteer and business appreciation
Thanks were given to all volunteers who had helped with all sorts of jobs , and a list of all the help, donations and time given so far, which included Paul Scott of P S Carpets who donated and fitted replacement flooring in the corridor, and for the Wigtown Community Shop for their donation of £500, plus numerous others who have given their time and expertise to help get the Wigtown Ploughman into the position of being ready to open the doors on Friday 28th March 2025. Decorating committee looking at moodboarding ideas for the styling of the accommodation, having already done a fabulous job in creating a warm and inviting warm space – henceforth to be known as The Lounge.

3. Community share offering finalisation
80% of the share offerings have now been paid up and the outstanding pledges are being followed up. The swift payments of the pledges has allowed us to progress with purchasing necessary items, giving us the confidence that we can proceed and have budgets available. We are now in the position of being able to look at refurbishing the accommodation due to the high response and the cash flow.

4. Community Hub update
Now to be known as The Lounge – we have had 20 volunteers for the lounge but we have had to delay the opening as we are needing a volunteer manager to create a rota of volunteers to ensure we have cover available, we are now looking at 14 April for opening the Lounge and are actively seeking a volunteer manager. We will also be looking at a booking system for groups to be able to hold meetings in the Lounge outside of standard opening times. We have purchased an urn and essentials to provide tea and coffee, using the donation from the Wigtown Community Shop.

5. Bar opening date
David confirmed that the opening will be Friday 28th March at 6pm with local celebrity Scad who has kindly agreed to pull the first pint! 47 years ago, Scad worked at the Commercial Inn. He is delighted to have been asked.

Our opening hours for Friday will be 6 pm- 11pm, then 3-11pm on Saturday. Going forward, opening times will be 3pm – 11pm Thursday through to Sunday.

The bar is well stocked with a very good selection of wines, local beers (e.g 5 Kingdoms, Wigtown Brewery), spirits from Crafty and Bladnoch distilleries, plus Scottish beers, Belhaven Best and Black, and West 4. We have ciders and bottled cider and lots of bottled ale. We will be in a position to swap bottled ales that prove popular onto the pumps. We also have gluten free beer, and a wide range of zero alcohol drinks along with a wide range of soft drinks. Coca cola is not yet on an install, but will be available in cans and bottles until the install is complete, ( we turned down the offer of the install to take place on 28th as we felt we would be rather busy that day !) It is very likely that there will be a few teething problems while we all find our feet, so please be kind!

We will have a protocol in place to protect our staff and customer safety. The Wigtown Ploughman will be a warm and friendly pub and welcome to all, including well behaved dogs ( and owners !) and children accompanied by a responsible adult. The beer garden looks fantastic and is a real sun trap. We had a kind donation from Causeway Nursery of some plants which look great. We will possibly have a gazebo available and will have Smidge on hand for those that need it. There is potential in the future for a BBQ event. The rough land at the rear entrance to the beer garden will be tidied up and there is a potential in the future that this can be purchased and the garden extended.

Once funding allows, we are hoping to offer apprenticeships in hospitality .
It was also mentioned that we will be calling an AGM in the future whereby the current committee will step down and members can put themselves forward for election. Current committee members may also put themselves forward for re-election.

6. Date and time of next Members’ meeting
Date of next meeting is to be April 28th

7. Member questions, ideas, and AOB
Q- Hiring of staff, how did that go?
A- 8 interviews were conducted during the last week with a good mix of applicants. Today 3 of the 4 people that we have offered positions to. All of the hours that the bar is open will be covered by paid staff. Julie Willan is currently the premises license holder . All staff will be trained on the systems and will be expected to give a high level of service. Mandatory training to work behind the bar will be taken. We are planning a trial run on Thursday 27th to cover all aspects of what we anticipate will be required including Health and Safety and fire drills. The Committee will be available to step in as needed, but we wish the paid staff to be empowered to do their job and to ask for help rather than the committee taking control. There is a potential to extend hours if the staff wish to do so.

Q- Lounge – will it be available to book for meetings.
A- Yes, booking will be available. U3A has asked if they can share our postal address which we have agreed. The core hours of the Lounge will be 11-3 Monday to Friday, but outwith these hours, the space can be booked for clubs/meetings.

Q- What plans for extending the Accommodation and Dining?
A- a subcommittee has been formed who are costing out plans for refurbishing. A SOSE hospitality expert has been to visit and has estimated spend per room would be around £8k to achieve what the committee would like to do. (Context provided after the meeting – this figure also included redoing the bathrooms which wouldn’t be necessary in our scenario) The final decision will be based on financial viability. The kitchen refurb is much more involved and more expensive to be transformed so the likelihood is that the food offering will be in 2 phases with a light offering initially of Eg, pizza . This is likely to involve sectioning off the kitchen . In the future the kitchen will be completed and possibly expanded. There will be a kitchen committee, as it has been proven that having a bar committee worked successfully. We are confident that we will have some sort of food offering by the time of the Book Festival. In the interim, we are collating local information on takeaway foods in the area and are happy for people to order and consume their purchases on the premises.

Q- Update on the bar manager and residential flat.
A- we will be taking quite a bit of time for the appointment of a bar manager. There will be a closing date for applications, as yet undecided. It is not yet decided whether the flat will be offered as part of a package, as it may be a better source of income to let it as holiday accommodation – we will have more of an idea at the next meeting.

Q- when is the hot chocolate machine going to be ready!
A- it is awaiting service and commissioning so we are waiting to contact the engineer. We may use a backup in place.

Dave gave thanks to Craig for steering the ship, being level headed and doing so much.

Meeting was closed at 9.30pm

February Members’ Meeting

We’d love you to join us from 6:30pm – 7:45pm in The Wigtown Ploughman at 30 South Main Street. We’re holding an open house for Members to come and see the building and to access all areas. Afterwards, we’d love you to join us in the County Buildings from 8pm for our Members’ Meeting, where we have the following agenda:

Minutes – Draft

Members were given a tour of the Wigtown Ploughman between 6.30 and 7.45, which was very well attended. Meeting then convened at County Buildings attended by 47 members plus 8 committee

1. Welcome and Apologies
Craig gave safety instructions and welcome, and commented on the open evening held at the Wigtown Ploughman, and gave thanks to those that had taken the time to visit and then to attend the meeting. Comment was made that 10 months of hard work behind the scenes had got us to this point – the building is now “yours” which was met with a round of applause.

    2. Building purchase complete
    Thanks to SOSE for the grant which enabled the purchase which concluded on Valentine’s Day with keys handed over. Hoping to get the warm space open very soon and the bar soon after. We now need the premises license to be transferred and currently police checks taking place for those that will be the licensees. Premises can then be officially renamed. Lots of work is continuing behind the scenes to ensure everything that needs to be in place is being correctly done

    3. Community share offering update
    Really heartwarming that 90% of the investment is from local people which is fantastic to have the local support. Thank were given for the pledges , emails will be issued to those that have pledged with instructions, and certificates will be issued to the shareholders . A message of support has been given on social media by Shaun Bythell which is very welcomed. Reiteration that money is at risk, and no pressure from members to commit. If interested to pledge , packs are still available until closure on 3rd March.
    .
    Q – what happens if 51% of local shareholding is not met? Committee meeting will be held and if the non local exceeds, we would have to withdraw enough applications from the Non local pledgers to address the balance to ensure that 51% local ownership is met. This will reduce the funding available, but is the only option. Currently we have 87% of pledges coming from local people – we feel confident that the 51% minimum will be achievable

    4. Warm space opening date / volunteer recruitment
    Huge amount of volunteer help has got the bar ready and cleaned and scrubbed over the past few weeks. The warm space room is planned to be the first room on the left as you enter. This will be filled with board games etcc. There will be the ability to bring food in from outside areas, with basic tea & coffee available. The warm space will always need to be manned by volunteers.

    Future management committee will be up for change once the initial term of the current committee is complete. Support is actively being sort from members for skills that might be within the group , eg anyone with HR experience Volunteers will always be welcomed.

    We are hoping to have the warm space open by 1st March . Still some areas that need to be covered, but we want to ensure that we can keep the momentum going. Building can be used by anyone . We wish to show that having a committee , work can move forward quickly. We will be looking for volunteers from our members to man the warm space during opening times . We will send out a form to all members for volunteering – any time given would be gratefully accepted. If any member would like to form a volunteer rota , that too would be welcomed . Members have been provided with a voting slip for decision on what hours would be requested for the warm space to be open.- but this will be subject to volunteer availability. We will make a commitment to be open as often as is possible and as quickly as possible.

    5. Bar supplier recommendation / tentative opening date 
    David Cannon confirmed we have had lots of meetings with supplies , including Tennents Belhaven and Heineken and it has been found that Belhaven suits us best, along with Five Kingdoms and Wigtown Brewery who will be the supplies for the inn.

    Belhaven and 5 Kingdoms work well together already and they are keen to help us . We have no tie-ions or contracts – no money exchanging hands – Belhaven and 5 Kingdoms are committing their time with no financial ties or contracts . We were planning to have 5 stream – 2 Belhaven, Thatchams Cider, and two of 5 Kingdoms , plus a Spanish lager. We will also have 2 handpulls supplied by 5 Kingdoms for real ales , of which we will run 1 at a time as Ale is difficult to work with and goes off quickly. Once we get an understanding of what demand is. We will look to have two Ales on the handpull. There will also be wine offered, using Kate’s wine expertise to provide a good cellar . will be looking at a high level of non alcoholic provision .

    Q – Could there be a flagon available that could be filled and taken home for consumption ? Craig and David agreed this would be a great idea and would look into off license selling.

    At last management committee, it was not known how long it would take for license to come through – we had hoped to get an Occasional License, but this is not possible so we are having to wait for transfer of the existing license . We need a premises manager who must be licensed – currently Julie is awaiting hers in the post, but if any members hold a license we would be very keen to have them act as the premises manager with full support from the team .

    We were hoping for an opening day for the bar of 28 March – Belhaven and 5 Kingdoms have confirmed that they can be ready for this date. Belhaven were the previous suppliers, so their equipment ( the Python) are still in place and just needs cleaning . We have quote for other essentials -water, electricity , waste eg card machines , Epos systems and other necessities. We should be on track to meet the date of 28th March so are quietly confident. The date may be in question due to environmental health sign off , which is proving quite difficult to get a date in the diary for them to come along . Nadine is working hard on this aspect

    Bars snacks will be discussed and this will evolve . We are also looking at investing in glass washer – very expensive ( excess of £1000) but we may potentially look to lease which could prove more economical . Discussions still being made as to which method would be best .

    Also discussion on how to staff and manage – eg would there be an overall manager with volunteers behind the bar. If any member has had HR /Staff recruitment and management experience we would be keen to hear. Opening hours would be built slowly initially due to financial restrictions, but this will increase and is depending upon the final share offering. There is an apartment available, but this has tax implications if offered as part of remuneration. Again if any members have tax law knowledge that they could share it would be gratefully received.

    We hope with the 28th March, we would be able to have an offering for Easter and mothers Day.

    Update on kitchen – the equipment is much larger than had been expected and it is likely we will need to remove a window to install – 2 steam ovens, double pizza oven, 6 burner hob with oven an grill, fryer. Pizza oven is on a 3 phase electrical system , we have 3 phase capability but need to get electricity board into connect the building to the 3 phase system . All the items need to be thoroughly cleaned and volunteers are requested -all equipment will be supplied. The opening of the kitchen will be beyond the date of the bar but we are hoping to offer a simple menu initially in a fairly short time, although we are not rushing things as want to get it correct

    Q – will glassware be available from the brewery?

    Some branded pint glasses will be available , but we will be purchasing good quality glasswear.

    6. Date and time of next Members’ meeting
    24th March 2025 County Building at 8pm

    7. Member questions, ideas, and AOB
    Q1- are we interested in groups using the space for their own meetings in evenings etc? Yes we are keen, but we need to have processes in place for key holding etc but this is definitely something we want to happen .

    Q2 Is there going to be a problem with Belhaven equipment in the cellar being impeded by the storage of the kitchen equipment being held in there ?

    Belhaven have confirmed the kitchen equipment is not in the way. We are expecting and H &S inspection for access to the rear but we do not anticipate any issues

    Q3 – advice that having a volunteer management is very hardwork and recommend that the hours are pared back initially
    This was acknowledged with agreement that we want to get it right first time and build slowly where needed

    Q4 – Word of caution that the customer is important . will there be a contact number that can be released so that nobody turns up and finds that the building isn’t open.

    Yes this will be available as soon as the line is in place. Communication will be given to ensure that people are aware of what to expect from the warm space, Ie manage expectations , also the bar – we know that the first impressions is the one that matters . Volunteer training will be given to ensure that the volunteers can be confident in themselves and enjoy the experience . We are very appreciative of feedback

    Q5 – important to not have too much burden on a single volunteer – eg fewer hours with a slow build to ensure nobody is left struggling .

    Very important that we will not commit to anything we can not do well , we will be taking baby steps to ensure we get it right

    Q6 – will warm space and bar be dog friendly ?

    YES , and child friendly too ( accompanied by an adult )

    Q7 – have we thought who are audience are going to be ?

    Are audience is YOU . We will ensure that wherever we advertise, we will be extremely explicit about what the offering is so there is no mistaking what is on offer at any given time Ideal scenario is to offer somewhere where a person can have good conversation , good wine, good coffee and to feel warm ,safe and welcomed. We would aim eventually to be represented in CAMRA which will promote us to travellers from far and wide , along with the more local people.

    We wish to offer what is not currently available . The Galloway does a fabulous job being a sports bar, but we will not be offering this , which will result in a quieter space where you can sit and relax and have conversation . Therefore between the two separate establishments, all aspects will be covered .

    We were very keen for this historic building to be restored to a public space rather than converted to private accommodation . We will want people to be fully aware of what is on offer each day and that they will want to return to our warm family friendly environment . There will be guidelines and training on conflict management should that arise .
    Thanks for attending

    Meeting closed 21:10

    A love letter to Wigtown

    🌹 Roses are red
    🪻 Violets are blue
    🍻 The Wigtown Ploughman
    🍾 Is now owned by you!

    We’re absolutely delighted to announce that today the sale of the building has successfully concluded and The Wigtown Ploughman is now owned by the Wigtown Community Inn CBS.

    Our next steps include lots of paperwork, many more meetings, and further planning of the intricacies of opening the building up to the community as swiftly and diligently as possible. This is where your help and support are absolutely vital.

    Our Community Share Offering is open until the 3rd of March and your investment pledges are the quickest way we can make business commitments and fully open our doors to offer exactly what we’ve been working towards. Please take a moment to find out more about the share offering.

    Community Share Offering Information

    A massive thank you to so many of you who have already pledged over £4,000; we’re humbled and grateful for your trust and support. We understand that not everyone is in a position to support the project financially, and we want you to know that regardless of whether you invest, the building is equally yours to use. It is an asset that belongs to the community and everyone is welcome.

    In the coming days we’ll be sharing more details of what’s involved in getting the doors open, and the volunteering efforts we’ll need to get the building upgraded and cleaned. It’s been almost 3 years since it was last open to the public, so there’s plenty of elbow grease needed!

    A few other thank yous are in order, for without the support of a small army we would not be in this fortunate position right now:

    ♥️ Massive thanks to Kirsten and her team at SOSE whose investment has enabled the purchase of the building; their support has been outstanding.
    ♥️ Thanks to the Plunkett Foundation for their guidance and smaller grants that have enabled surveys and other crucial costs to be covered.
    ♥️ Thank you to everyone who previously donated before we had a Share Offering in place, it has been critical in showing we have some working capital to pay for things such as insurance.
    ♥️ Thank you to the many people involved with the numerous forms of fundraising efforts and the community for supporting those efforts.
    ♥️ Thank you to all Members that have sent messages of support, attended meetings, asked how they can be involved, asked thoughtful questions, and given advice and insights along the way. 
    ♥️ And a final personal thank you to everyone past, present, and dearly departed on the Management Committee – this project is truly a labour of love and a massive team effort – your dedication is appreciated more than you can ever know.

    Our next Members’ Meeting is the 24th of February at 8pm in the Wigtown County Buildings. We hope everyone can join us there whilst we continue to work in the background to prepare the building for its phased opening.

    Cheers 🍻

    Local Community Secures Funding To Buy Historic Inn In Wigtown

    Wigtown’s Community Inn Community Benefit Society (CBS) has been offered grant funding from South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) for the acquisition of the building currently known as the Plough Inn, a centuries-old building in the heart of Wigtown. The CBS is absolutely delighted that SOSE has chosen to fund this project, a major milestone in securing the building for long-term community use. We are thrilled to be preserving this historic inn here in Wigtown, to help the community continue to flourish.

    Left to right: Julie Willan, Catherine Brown, Richard Draper, Pennie Cumming and Craig Hamnett

    Left to right: Julie Willan, Catherine Brown, Richard Draper, Pennie Cumming and Craig Hamnett – Download high resolution

    The CBS is a local, not-for-profit organisation focused on the management and development of this building. Our objectives are: to open the building to promote social gathering; to provide employment and training; to facilitate events and services for the benefit of the local community; to contribute to the development of tourism amenities and the night time economy of the town. The building’s principal commercial aims are: to be an excellent accommodation provider; to offer delicious, affordable, locally-sourced meals; to provide a brilliant family- and dog-friendly bar.

    The Wigtown Community Inn Community Benefit Society was formed in March 2024, and originally comprised George Willan, Catherine Brown, Richard Draper, Pennie Cumming, Craig Hamnett and Kevin Witt. George tragically passed away in May, and his death left a void in the community he was so loved by. His wife Julie has recently joined the Management Committee, honouring his memory by continuing to give back to the community with the same energy and commitment her late husband gave. George Moore has also joined the Management Committee as an invaluable Treasurer.

    The application process has not been plain sailing, since the announcement of the closure of the fund we had originally been preparing for — the Community Ownership Fund — as a result of the July General Election. A subsequent bid to the Scottish Land Fund failed due to an increasingly competitive funding landscape, but we were buoyed with good feedback and encouraged to apply in 2025. Fearing the historic building may be lost to a permanent change of use, we hedged our bets and turned to SOSE, who had already been pivotal in providing support and advice for the previous applications. A funding bid was submitted for the cost of the building and we were thrilled to find out we had been successful, given such a challenging funding landscape. We cannot thank everyone at SOSE enough. They provide such a professional service, and their kind-natured human approach removed the fear of applying for such a large amount of money.

    Russel Griggs OBE, Chair of South of Scotland Enterprise, said: “One of our priorities at SOSE is to support vibrant, resilient and enterprising communities to help tackle the economic and social challenges we face, and help our region to flourish.

    “With the support of our Communities team, Wigtown Community Inn CBS is doing exactly that, as they bring a disused building back into use for the benefit of the community as well as contribute to the local economy.

    “I look forward to seeing this project progress and the new Inn becoming a real asset for Wigtown.”

    The Journey Ahead

    After securing the funding for the building, our attention is focused on raising start-up capital to realise the vision we originally presented to the community. We can start small and work towards that vision, but our goal is to get the building open to the public as soon as possible. We’re currently identifying and applying to other relevant funding bodies, in conjunction with putting together a shareholder prospectus to raise money through an initial community share offering, and asking (very politely!) for donations from far and wide to kick-start the business and restore the building to its former glory.

    “The pub would provide important economic and social roles which have been missing in Wigtown.”

    Dr Jacqui Robertson – ReadingLasses Bookshop & Cafe

    There is still much more to do, and many more challenges along the way. Although a lot of research has been done, there are still unknown hurdles to overcome. That’s why we’re encouraging the community to take an active role in becoming members of the Wigtown Community Inn CBS for just £1. This will expand the CBS’s experience profile and inject vital expertise into the conversation, to mitigate some of those unknowns.

    Lastly, we have sincere thank yous to give to a number of people outside the CBS that have been pivotal in getting us to this stage: Irene Tilley for invaluable hospitality advice; Kirsten Logue at SOSE for her patience and due diligence; Jack Cooper of the Plough for building access and answering so many questions; George Ogier and Alison Macklin at the Plunkett Foundation, for all their support and encouragement, and the Plunkett Foundation for their grant that paid for the Valuation Survey, and the administrative and legal cost of incorporating the CBS with the FCA. Also, Ailsa Murphy at the Scottish Land Fund, for all her great support and guidance, and the SLF for their Stage 1 grant that paid for the Conditions Survey and the Asbestos Survey.

    Also, thank you to all the business owners of Wigtown who have been in touch to either write letters of support or have taken the time to sit down and provide constructive feedback, and, finally, to the community as a whole. We’ve felt the support and encouragement since day one, and that’s been our driving force to restore a much loved building back to its original status.

    For any questions please contact:
    Craig Hamnett
    Chairperson of the Wigtown Community Inn CBS
    hello@wigtown-cbs.co.uk