Centuries-old Crook Inn site at Tweedsmuir being brought back to life

The Crook Inn closed 15 years ago after more than four centuries of continuous operation

Work is scheduled to start later this month to bring the site of one of Scotland's oldest pubs back into use.

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

A lengthy community campaign to try to bring it back to life has now seen a contract awarded for phase one of a redevelopment.

It will allow work to begin on The Wee Crook - a licensed bistro - which it is hoped can open early next year.

Customers should be able to return to the Crook Inn site early in 2022

The Crook Inn was first licensed in 1604 and operated for four centuries before it closed its doors for good.

Plans were lodged to turn it into flats and a house but local residents fought to buy the building and save it for the community.

A fundraising campaign saw the Tweedsmuir Community Company (TCC) agree a deal to take it over in 2012.

Grant applications for initial plans to redevelop the site proved unsuccessful in 2016, but enough money was subsequently raised to buy the remaining buildings and surrounding land.

Work has been ongoing to prepare the area for redevelopment

It led to revised plans over three phases to revive the historic building.

A contract has now been awarded to Biggar-based Lawrie Construction to carry out the first stage of work at a cost of £600,000.

It will see the old steading building converted into a licensed bistro.

At the same time, the community is working on restoring the gardens opposite and the land around the inn.

The bistro is the first phase of ambitious plans for the site

A second phase will see the development of a new bunkhouse behind the Crook Inn providing accommodation for tourists visiting the area.

Then the final section of work will be to tackle the main building itself.

James Welch, TCC vice chairman, said support from Scottish Borders Council, South of Scotland Enterprise and local wind farm funds - as well as others - had been instrumental in moving the project forward.

"We are really delighted to have made it across the line and are now able to move our focus to the delivery of a new facility for the Upper Tweed community and to welcome visitors to the area," he said.

Work should start on the new bistro by the middle of July and it is hoped it can open for business by spring 2022.

The community has worked for over a decade to revive the old pub