Pub diversifying services to support community

In the first scheme of its kind in Scotland, a Scottish Borders pub is working with Pub is the Hub to diversify their services to support the local community.

As part of this, the Allan Ramsay Hotel in Carlops is holding a two-day festival to celebrate the Scottish poet Allan Ramsay, marking the launch of a new cultural heritage resource centre dedicated to the life and works of the poet.

The inaugural Allan Ramsay festival will take place on 15 and 16 October 2016 in conjunction with support from Professor Murray Pittock and Professor Gerry Carruthers of the Centre for Robert Burns Studies at the University of Glasgow as well as local musical and theatrical groups and will feature talks, workshops, an exhibition, a guided walk, a magazine and an Allan Ramsay dinner.

When Rosemary and Kenny first approached Pub is The Hub for help and advice about how their pub could play a part in community life they were advised to devise a community questionnaire.

Rosemary said:

With help from our Pub is The Hub advisor, Gordon Izatt, we created a questionnaire for local residents and we were lucky enough to have a 75% return rate. What came through loud and clear was that the village wanted the pub to celebrate their famous connection to the poetry and artistry of both Ramsays and to capitalise on relevant services for visitors to the area."

As a result – and with £3,720 in grant funding from the £30k fund announced by the Scottish Government earlier in the year for rural pubs - the couple have since set up provision for a take away food service from the pub, information about local walks around the areas mentioned in the Ramsay poetry, and are looking into bike hire provision for mountain bikers to explore the neighbouring Pentland Regional Park.

More specifically there will be a permanent Allan Ramsey resource at the pub to include copies of key works by Ramsey senior, a specially commissioned reproduction of an historic portrait depiction of Allan Ramsay as The Gentle Shepherd and prints of select paintings by Allan Ramsay junior to decorate the hotel’s restaurant. There will be an Allan Ramsay themed rooms and guided walk around Carlops as well as pertinent signage at the pub and other significant locations in the area.

John Longden, Chief Executive of Pub is The Hub said:

"This is the first project that we have done in Scotland in collaboration with the Scottish Borders Council and the Scottish Government so it seems apt that it should be to celebrate the lives of two of Scotland’s most celebrated writers and artists.

"Pub names reflect the times in which they were built and it is fantastic that Rosemary and Kenny are helping to reinvigorate the Ramsay links with overwhelming encouragement from their community. I am delighted that we have been able to guide and support their efforts."

Visit the Pub is the Hub website for more information on their work with rural pubs and how they can help.