Overhaul of centuries-old pub site takes next step

Work on the £1m bunkhouse will take about 10 months to complete

The second phase of community efforts to bring the site of one of Scotland's oldest pubs back into use is about to begin.

The Crook Inn at Tweedsmuir in the Borders closed in 2006 after more than 400 years of continuous operation.

A dilapidated steading building was renovated in the first phase of work and opened two years ago.

Now work is starting on a £1m bunkhouse which can sleep 22 guests with a view to opening next year. The final phase will see the redevelopment of the historic pub itself.

The community bought the Crook Inn site in Tweedsmuir in 2012 and has been upgrading it ever since

The pub was first licensed in 1604 and was bought by the Tweedsmuir Community Company (TCC) in 2012 after sitting empty for about six years.

The £600,000 overhaul of the old steading was the first part of the three-phase plan to regenerate the site.

Now work is starting on the bunkhouse which will provide "unique and accessible accommodation" for walkers, cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts exploring the region.

It is a part of the wider Destination Tweed initiative to attract people to explore the 113-mile (180km) length of the River Tweed.

The pub was in continuous use for more than 400 years

Construction on the new bunkhouse is expected to take about 10 months and it should welcome its first guests next autumn.

James Welch, from the TCC, said: "This is another exciting moment for Tweedsmuir.

"The bunkhouse isn't simply about providing an impressive new accommodation option for visitors but is also part of a multi-year project that's bringing new life, energy and opportunity to our community.

"It will strengthen our connection to visitors, help to showcase our landscape and heritage and enable the Crook Inn site to maintain its centuries-old reputation for hospitality.

"We're greatly looking forward to its opening next year."

The bunkhouse will provide accommodation for up to 22 guests once it is completed

Scottish Borders Council leader Euan Jardine said the project was a "fantastic example" of what communities could achieve when working with others to benefit the region.

The Tweed Forum's Destination Tweed project director, Luke Fisher, added: "The new bunkhouse will play a vital role in providing high-quality accommodation for visitors enjoying the initial stages of the new River Tweed Trail.

"High-quality, affordable accommodation is an important element of the tourist offer right along the planned route and will help to attract visitors to the area.

"It's also a fantastic illustration of the potential business and social benefits that the River Tweed Trail is set to bring to the south of Scotland."

The final phase of the project will bring the Crook Inn at Tweedsmuir back into use