Historic pub on the brink of community ownership

A historic Borders pub is on the verge of moving into community ownership after securing more than £200,000 in grant funding.

It brings the campaign to within £30,000 of the purchase price for the Templehall Hotel in Morebattle, with a further £45,000 being sought to refurbish and manage the pub, its function suite and adjoining land.

But organisers have warned it will only happen if locals follow through with pledges to provide financial support of about £70,000.

The new funding is coming from the Scottish Land Fund and South of Scotland Enterprise.

Roddy Murray, who chairs the Morebattle Community Hub and Public House Limited group (MCHPHL), said it was over to local residents to help complete the deal.

"It's very exciting to have the community right behind us, and if the share issue is as successful as we hope, then we could be up and running some time during February all going well," he said.

"But it's all reliant on the success of community share issue now.

"We received pledges from residents in and around the Kalewater valley and further afield, to the tune of £70,000, and if these all turn into money in the bank then we're fine, but it's got to happen quite quickly.

"It's really got to happen by mid-January to have everything in place for the purchase."

The Templehall Hotel has been around for more than 250 years and is located on the St Cuthbert's Way walking route.

The MCHPHL has two plans for the management of the hotel - one would see experienced tenants run the business and pay rent while the other would be for a community management group to run it.

Mr Murray is confident that local people will follow through with their pledges and the community will breathe new life into the hotel early in 2025.

He said it would become a "warm, friendly and welcoming country village pub" but also with a hub attached for use by the community for a range of activities.