Last orders called at village pub
Venue is put up for sale as it fights financial losses
A Strathblane pub and restaurant has closed its doors with the owners blaming trading “challenges”.
The Blane Valley Inn closed on Sunday “for the foreseeable future” with local businessmen Sandy, Stuart and David Fraser putting it up for sale or lease.
This week father and son Sandy and Stuart told the Observer they and their staff had worked “incredibly hard” over the last two years to try to provide a high quality pub for the community but had been affected by difficult trading conditions and other factors.
Sandy said: “For some time, the costs of running The Blane Valley Inn have been far greater than the income received. During the last year we have been seeking new ways to ensure a secure future for the business.
“To that end we recently submitted a planning application to Stirling Council for the introduction of three accommodation pods to be sited in the underutilised beer garden to the rear. The pods would have provided much needed accommodation for walkers and cyclists on the John Muir Way and helped to deliver long-term financial viability for the business.”
The original application, however, attracted the local villages, serving the needs of both residents and visitors.
“The Oak Tree Inn, Village Shop and St Mocha Coffee Shop in Balmaha, along with the newly opened Station Coffee Shop in Aberfoyle have all had a positive impact on their villages, creating many new jobs. We have invested significantly in the appearances of our businesses and contributed greatly to many village conservation initiatives.
“We had hoped to do the same for the Blane Valley Inn, but clearly needed a sustainable operation to be able to achieve this.
“We want locals to know that as a family we have given it our very best and will continue to do that. We will continue to talk to the community council and key local people on the situation.”
Co-owner of the Blane Valley Stuart, said “The inn was first opened over 150 years ago. We have strong links with the village and know that many residents will be disappointed by this unavoidable decision, especially having been so warmly welcomed when we bought the pub two years ago.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the residents that supported us over this time and also to pay tribute to our dedicated team. We will be discussing alternative roles for them within our organisation.”
The pair say ideally finding new owners or operators who would live on the premises may be an ideal solution, and there was still hope that the revised tourism pods application might yet be approved.
Forth and Endrick independent councillor Robert Davies said: “Business conditions are tough in small rural communities and this closure, while not unexpected, is still disappointing. Unless villages embrace growth local businesses will continue to struggle.”
Another factor in their decision appears to have been the need to give more focus to the Carbeth Inn at Blanefield, once one of Scotland’s oldest pubs.
The businessmen have already poured £400,000 into the project after finding major roofing and dampness problems with the building, which was closed by then owners Greene King in 2015.
In that case temporary planning permission has been granted for a cafe and takeaway to be created on the site, aimed at generating revenue to save the main building and achieve the initial aim of converting into a bistro/restaurant with an ancillary retail and tourist information area, holiday lettings bedrooms.
“For the last three years Carbeth has been the first thing anyone asks us about,” said Stuart. “It is on the John Muir Way and we hoped to replicate what we had done in Balmaha.
“Coffee shops are now the pubs of the 60s and 70s. Drink driving laws have changed and people are also just not drinking the way they used to.
“We wanted to provide something that was still a service.
“Obviously we have gone massively over budget but we ideally want the building to be operational and the temporary pop up will hopefully provide revenue for the work.”