A pair of pubs in Balloch are among dozens across the country hit by one of Scotland’s oldest brewery firms calling in administrators.

The Maclay Group – which owns the Tullie Inn and operated the Dog House – appointed EY as administrators on Friday citing ‘an unexpected funding requirement’.

Yesterday the administrators said they would continue to run the Tullie Inn while they looked for a buyer and had already had interest.

Gavin Yuill, joint administrator, said: “Faced with an unexpected funding requirement, the directors of Maclay Group plc and its trading subsidiary Maclay Inns Ltd decided to call in administrators to protect the business and safeguard jobs.” He added: “The underlying business remains strong and we have received a number of expressions of interest as might have been expected given the esteem in which the brand is held.” Following the appointment of administrators, the management contract for the Dog House was transferred to Norwich-based LT Management on Friday.

Yesterday, the management firm said it was ‘business as usual’ at the Dog House.

Local community and business figures said they hoped the future of the two pubs would be secured.