Whether you're a drinker or not, the heart of a community is quite often the pub.
And Drongan's The Boolers is just that after winning our Ayrshire-wide Pub of the Year award.
The Millmannoch Avenue boozer came out on top when the votes were counted – with Ayr's Smugglers coming second and the Alton Inn in Kilwinning bagging third.
Thousands of votes were cast in our annual competition, highlighting the importance of a good local to our readers and communities.
The staff at the The Boolers were presented with their award at the weekend and it was evident the team were delighted with their success.
Manager Ryan McCubbin has hailed his "wee pub's" victory a massive underdog story.
Ryan, 26, took over The Boolers three years ago when the place was set to be demolished – now people are travelling from all over Ayrshire and beyond to visit the boozer.
Ryan told Ayrshire Live: “It’s brilliant, I can’t believe we won it.
“It’s amazing, I didn’t expect it, especially not where we’ve come from – I don’t know if a lot of people know our story.
“The full place was destroyed when we took over so to go from that to this is brilliant.
“Three years ago in July we got the building, and it was due to be demolished.
“The full place was shuttered right round, there was no electric, no water, the ceilings were falling down, the windows were smashed, the grass was waist height.
“We basically did the place top to bottom, the community got involved and it’s made it a success.
“Covid probably helped us to be honest. It would have been impossible to do what we did in that time. It is mad to say it but the lockdowns helped us in some ways. It has been some journey."
He continued: “I was jumping about when I found out we’d won! I was like, ‘surely not?’ I didn’t think we’d win, I couldn’t believe it.
“What a buzz, it’s an underdog story; a wee pub in Drongan beating big pubs in Kilmarnock and Ayr.
“I am over the moon and it’s my proudest achievement taking this pub from where it was to winning an award like this."
Ryan was just 23 when he took over the place –but being a local lad, he knew how important it was to get a community boozer in place.
With countless functions held almost weekly, there is plenty to do for The Boolers' punters.
Ryan said: “You learn quick, I’d never had a pub in my life and neither did anyone in my family.
“I’m a local guy, I grew up here, there was nothing in Drongan. When I grew up this place had been shut since 2013, another pub shut when I was 18.
“I think The Boolers changed the village in some ways, a lot of people say that. There are kids' parties, all kinds of functions, it gives a place for people to be proud of.
“A community pub is the heart of a place like this, but I didn’t expect this.
“The amount of people that come from all over is mental, it just gives people a place to go and enjoy a day or night out.
“Before you were maybe heading to Ayr and getting taxis, but now it’s the opposite people are coming here from Ayr!"
Other nominated venues were: The Clansman, Kilmarnock; Bar Luca, Kilmarnock; The Kings Arms, Fenwick; The Brig, Ayr; The Smoking Goat, Ayr; The Weston Tavern, Kilmaurs; The Black Bull, Darvel.
Ayrshire Live Digital Editor Ross Dunn said: “One behalf of everyone at Ayrshire Live, I would like to congratulate The Boolers on winning our Pub of the Year 2022 competition.
“I would also like to commend all of the finalists who were shortlisted for the award.
“The hospitality industry has been hit hard during the pandemic and to see our communities come out in support for their pubs and bars in such huge numbers has been heartening.
“Finally, a huge thanks goes to you, our loyal readers, for voting for your favourite pub and supporting this competition.”
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