The village that saved its inn
The Kenmuir Arms belongs to New Luce. When it closed, the village bought it, rebuilt it, and opened its doors again.
The Kenmuir Arms was where New Luce met. When it closed its doors, for around five years, the village lost more than a pub: it lost its place to gather, with only the post office and a rarely-opened village hall left.
So the village decided to save it. The community voted overwhelmingly for the New Luce Community Trust to buy the building as a community asset. The renovation was paid for by the Kilgallioch Community Fund, the community benefit from ScottishPower Renewables' Kilgallioch Windfarm in the hills above the village.
Work began in May 2021, led by a local firm, Luce Bay Plant Hire. Old buildings keep secrets: rotten timbers, tired ceiling joists and a colony of bats all had to be dealt with along the way. Nearly two years later, the inn reopened in 2023 with a glass-fronted restaurant, a snug bar and three ensuite bedrooms.
“The jewel in the crown of the village”
Today the building is still owned by the village, and the inn begins its next chapter under new management. Every meal and every night's stay helps keep it open for New Luce.
Photo: Photograph of the inn today to come: the renovated building and its glass-fronted restaurant.
How it happened
- Closed
The village loses its local
The Kenmuir Arms closed its doors for around five years, and New Luce lost the place where it met.
- The vote
The village decides to save it
The whole community voted overwhelmingly for the New Luce Community Trust to buy the inn as a community asset.
- 2020
Plans approved
Full planning permission and a building warrant were approved in October 2020.
- May 2021
Local hands get to work
Renovation began with a local firm, Luce Bay Plant Hire, as main contractor. Rotten timbers, ceiling joists and resident bats made it a bigger job than planned.
- Funding
Paid for by the wind
The renovation was funded by the Kilgallioch Community Fund, from ScottishPower Renewables' Kilgallioch Windfarm in the hills above the village.
- 2023
Open again
After nearly two years of work, the inn reopened in 2023 with a glass-fronted restaurant, a snug bar and three ensuite bedrooms.
- 2026
A new chapter
Still owned by the village, the inn begins its next chapter under new management.
Sources
Be part of the story
Every table and every room booked helps keep the village's inn open.