About - Templehall Inn

Our Story

In January 2024, our much loved village pub, The Templehall, had been on the market and was at risk of being sold for private use, after a period of closure. Concerned residents set up a Community Benefit Society, the Morebattle Community Hub and Public House Ltd, which initiated our community buyout. With funding from the Scottish Land Fund, and South of Scotland Enterprise as well as many shareholders local and further afield, the hotel was finally secured for the community in March 2025.

Since then a lot of refurbishment and upgrading has taken place – new fire doors, flat root, boiler, cooker etc. Volunteers have done much of the DIY tasks and gardening and there are plenty of other things on our to do list.

We are delighted to have tenants Justin and Mercy running the Templehall Inn and rapidly gaining an excellent reputation for good food and friendly service. We hope you will enjoy your visit, and come back regularly!

A Bit of History

The name of the place suggests that the grounds may once have been in the possession of the Knights Templar, who had actually been present in the region: around 1180, Ranulf de Corbet of Roxburghshire is said to have been a Master of the Temple.

The earliest mention of the name “Templehall” we have found so far is dated to the year 1678. The oldest building on these grounds appears to have been a house which had been the property of “Mr Darling of Templehall” in about 1839.

For many decades and into the second half of the 20^th century, the Templehall Dairy and the Templehall Inn were run as two separate businesses.

The sign on the main building once read “Temple Hall Hotel” and featured a six-pointed star, which is said to be an old brewer’s sign, next to the representation of hops, barley and water. The pub is believed to have had connections to the Usher’s brewery in Edinburgh. The old sign is still there, only the words are now covered by the modern logo.

Having changed owners multiple times since the second half of the 20^th century, and having been closed over long periods more than once during this period, the local community had ventured to buy the place (supported by Scottish Land Fund) in early 2024, to preserve it as the centre of community life it had been for more than 250 years, and succeeded in doing so in May 2025. The pub and hotel are since run by local tenants, supported by volunteers, much to the delight of both locals and visitors, who enjoy meeting in the pub over a refreshing drink or a good meal.

Community Ownership

The vehicle for this purchase is The Morebattle Community Hub and Public House Limited, a Community Benefit Society registered with the Financial Conduct Authority.

We have chosen this legal model because it emphasises the social benefit of the project, and allows local residents and other supporters to take full ownership of it through the purchase of shares.

Its statutory “asset lock” also ensures that the assets of the society will be used for the benefit of the community and cannot be disposed of for private profit.

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Our Story

A Bit of History

Community Ownership

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