A group of Angus friends have stepped in to rescue their local pub and run it as a non-profit venture.
The Craws Nest in Carnoustie has served the community stretching from Barry in the west to the middle of town in the east since the 1970s.
While the freehold pub has been at the centre of life for two generations, locals stepped in to lend a hand when landlord George Irvine announced he would have to close due to difficult trading conditions.
Michael Bell, Kenny Kidd and two friends heard the news and wanted to give something back to a place that has “generated a lot of friendships over the years”.
Mr Bell said Mr Irvine would continue to manage the pub as he always had, while the group of friends have stumped up some cash to make minor improvements to drive up trade.
He said there has been a “really positive” community response when residents found out what was happening.
“George has run the pub for about 10 years, but due to changes in habits he has found it hard of late,” he said.
“He made the tough decision he was going to close but when he told us, within a week we had a consortium set up to take over the responsibility for the rent. It is on a not-for-profit basis. Any money the pub makes will go back into it.
“So instead of the doors closing, this past week has been one of the busiest in recent times.
“There has been a really positive response from the locals.
“I moved here 10 years ago and many of the friends I have were made playing pool here or over a pint in the Craws.
“It has generated a lot of friendships over the years.”
Its emblem, a nesting crow, derived from a long-held belief this was the basis for the town’s name.
The burgh’s original 19th Century seal bore four crows above a tree, although the coat-of-arms adopted in 1953 played down the role of the bird in the origin story.