One of Tarbert’s best loved pubs is on the market as one of the village’s most popular couples prepare to take a well-earned break.
Duggie and Margaret MacNeill have held the lease for The Corner House for 11 years and prior to that Duggie managed the bar for owner Moira Mcdonald for 12 years.
The bar is a major part of many festivals each year, including the Tarbert Seafood Festival and Tarbert Music Festival.
Margaret has kept her job at Tarbert Pharmacy while helping Duggie run the pub, and the couple say they will stay on until a buyer is found.
The Corner House is famous for being a community-minded pub which has raised tens of thousands of pounds for various charities over the years with the MacNeills at the helm.
They have hosted fundraising events for charities close to the hearts of people in Tarbert, including Macmillan Cancer, Think Pink for Breast Cancer and most recently Parkinson’s UK.
Margaret will keep her job on at the pharmacy, while Duggie, who has Parkinson’s, is going to take some time out to “chill” for a bit and enjoy life.
Margaret said: “We tried to have as much live music as possible. I would like to see it go to someone interested in the community rather than a big pub chain. It’s a community pub. The Frigate is still the younger person’s pub.
Margaret said: “The Corner House is part of the community and has been for a long time.
“We will miss seeing everyone, we have made a lot of friends. Duggie is there more than me. He has made lots of good pals and kept in touch with a lot of people of the years. We will miss seeing those familiar faces.
“It’s been really good, but it has been hard work at times trying to do both jobs for me.
“I think it would suit a couple that are both prepared to work at it. I just hope it goes to someone who is community-minded.”
They couple say they will ’definitely’ be having a leaving party when the time comes.
The sale is being handled by Christie and Co, and the agents say the pub benefits from a yearly influx of tourists during the summer, as well as visitors making their way to the whisky isle using the Islay ferry.
Tony Spence, associate director at Christie & Co, who is handling the sale, said: "This is a great opportunity to acquire an easily managed, well-performing ‘wet-led’ public house in Tarbert.
"The property has been owned by our clients for over 30 years and has come to the market as the existing management looks to retire.
Potential buyers are invited to contact the agent for the asking price.
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