Situated near Dunoon at the southern gateway to the Scottish Highlands on the banks of the Holy Loch in the village of Sandbank, the Oakbank Community Inn dates back to the 1860s.
The Starting Point
The building that became the Oakbank Inn dates to the mid-1800s.
Mr James Cochran, a well-known and respected wine and spirit merchant in the West of Scotland, acquired the building in 1877 and got a hotel licence following a refurbishment.
The Victorians
The village of Sandbank developed in the Victorian era as a Clyde-coast destination for Glaswegians (“Doon the Watter” steamers), and the Oakbank served holidaymakers and day-trippers as well as locals. The tourist/steamer trade is repeatedly mentioned as key to the inn’s early role.
The growth of Sandbank in the 1860s–1870s included the primary school (1864) and a parish church (1868).
Late 19th / Early 20th
By the late 19th / early 20th century the Oakbank was one of the licensed premises with Sandbank historically having several inns and hotels catering to visitors and the local community.
The Visitors
The inn sat on the village’s main road, just yards from the Holy Loch, so it was a natural stop for visitors arriving by boat and by road. It provided lodging, food and a meeting place for both seasonal visitors and fishermen/boat-workers.
The US Navy
By the turn of the century, it was a familiar local landmark.
The Oakbank’s long life included serving families connected with the US Navy presence in Holy Loch (1961–1991).
