The Kings Arms Community Pub and Hub in Ballantrae has been named the winner of the Team Spirit Award at the 2026 Rural Community Business Awards, hosted by Plunkett UK. It was the only Scottish winner across the nine award categories.
Recognition for teamwork
The award recognises the volunteers' collaboration, teamwork, and community spirit. Winners were announced at a ceremony at the Royal Society of Chemistry in London, sponsored by Lands Improvement. More than 80 individuals from across the UK nominated their community businesses and individual champions for this year's awards.
Sarah Benn, Relationships Team Leader at Plunkett UK, said: "It has been a great joy to recognise and celebrate all of the finalists at this year's Rural Community Business Awards. Each one is truly dedicated to making a difference in their community, and having a considerable impact on the lives of local people in a variety of different ways. Well done to all of this year's winners - their award is very much deserved!"
A community rescue
The Kings Arms, an 18th-century coaching inn and the last pub in the village, had been on the market for years with no serious offers. In 2020, the Ballantrae Trust purchased it for the community with financial support from the Scottish Land Fund and Carrick Futures Community Benefit Fund. Volunteers from the Community Benefit Society (CBS), established to run the facility, now offer activities and events to reduce social isolation, support health and wellbeing, and bring together locals and visitors.
However, rising energy costs and the cost of living have made keeping the pub open, even for a few days a week, challenging. Sue Macdougall, Secretary of the CBS, said: "We've had our challenges over the years but we have a great team of volunteers who work hard to keep the Community Pub and Hub open, and it's really lovely for all of their hard work to be recognised in this way. We were delighted to even be nominated for the Team Spirit Award so we were over the moon to win."
Future plans
Looking ahead, Macdougall added: "The support we have received from Plunkett UK, from Development Trusts Association Scotland, and other external partners has been fantastic. The Ballantrae Trust, which owns the building, is about to embark on an ambitious fund raising campaign to finance a Kings Arms Community Pub and Hub Regeneration Project involving internal and external renovation, which will allow us to increase revenue from accommodation and food services, and create a fully inclusive, accessible, sustainable business providing hospitality training and employment opportunities."
Plunkett UK is a national charity supporting people in rural areas to set up and run community-owned businesses. There are almost 900 such businesses across the UK, democratically owned by community members, ranging from village shops, pubs, and cafes to woodlands and farms.
