by Kevin Mills, Birgham, Berwickshire

The pub that was originally called The Fisherman's Arms closed in the autumn of 2001, as the owner wasn't well and the business failed. At that point it was quite a popular place. In 2004 it reopened under new ownership and under a new name, much to the delight of the villagers, but locals soon realised that the new pub's main focus was food. Trade dwindled over time as locals deserted it. It was eventually closed down in the autumn of 2007.

The next thing we knew the owners had put in a planning application to turn the building into mainly residential accommodation and put it up for sale. There was a huge hubbub when it was discovered that the pub might disappear for good - out of 180 residents, 60 turned out for what turned into a very vociferous village meeting.

I was asked to chair a group to help save the pub, and more than 100 objections were lodged with the Scottish Borders Council. We also lobbied our councillors, MSPs and MPs. Meanwhile, we were wondering how to revive the pub. We conducted a marketing survey and a financial viability study, which convinced us that a pub in Birgham could be successful, and when we got the original planning application turned down in summer last year, five of us from the campaign group pooled funds and bought it.

We wanted to involve as many villagers as possible, so once we'd signed the deeds, we offered anyone who lived in Birgham the chance to buy shares. Eighteen more people bought in, so we are now 23 shareholders. On 6 December 2008 it reopened, once again named The Fisherman's Arms. The food is very good. Everything is made on the premises, there's nothing bought in, and it's doing a roaring trade, with people coming to Birgham from all around. Above all, villagers are happy to give their custom.

We have great tenants and a fantastic landlady, Pauline, who runs it. Two chefs have been employed, and it's also a chance for young people locally to get a part-time job that gives them good work experience as well as a wage. The pub hosts community groups too - there's a ladies' group, a wine-tasting group and live folk music jamming session most Fridays.

Birgham is only a very small village; it doesn't have a shop, a post office or a school, and the campaign to save the pub was fantastic in that it brought local people together in a way that hadn't happened here for a very long time."

Reproduced with permission from the Countryfile website
Fiona Cowan
5 March 2010