Two pubs 'more than adequate' for south Scotland village

Proposals to turn a former south of Scotland pub into a family home have been approved, after developers successfully argued that two other pubs were "more than adequate" provision for the town.

The Thornhill Inn sits on Drumlanrig Street in Thornhill and dates back to the early 18th Century when it served travellers as a coaching inn.

However, it stopped operating as a restaurant and pub in September 2024.

Now plans have been approved to put it to residential use after a supporting statement for the move said that two pubs should be enough for about 1,700 locals.

It was put on the market in December 2022, but there was "no viable interest" in continuing to run it as a pub.

It sits on the main street through the town with a mix of shops and houses along its route.

New owners purchased the building in 2024 and have now been cleared to change its use as any external alterations would be "only minimal".

A planning statement supporting the bid highlighted that both the Farmers Arms and the Buccleuch Arms Hotel continued to operate in the town.

"The continued presence of these facilities ensures that the community retains access to public house and restaurant provision within the settlement," it said.

"Thornhill is a relatively small rural settlement with a limited population catchment.

"In such locations, the capacity of the local market to support multiple hospitality venues is naturally constrained."

It said that rural economic conditions could make it challenging for "similar operations" to be sustained.

"In this context, the loss of one former public house/hotel, which is no longer operating, will not result in a deficiency of provision nor undermine the sustainability or function of the settlement," it added.

"The remaining establishments can meet existing community demand."

Similar plans to turn the nearby Elmarglen Hotel into a private house were approved by the council three years ago.