Remote Island Pub Life: ‘What on Earth Were We Thinking?’ Reflects Owner of UK’s Most Isolated Pub

Rachel Devine, 46, and her wife Jhennia Leipert, 44, embarked on a life-changing journey when they left London behind and took over The Puffer Bar on the remote Scottish island of Easdale, via the Mirror. Located off Scotland’s west coast, Easdale is the smallest inhabited island in the Inner Hebrides, home to just 60 people and no roads. Recently, a study confirmed The Puffer Bar as the UK’s most remote pub.

Rachel and Jhennia purchased The Puffer from its previous owners, who had run the pub for a decade. Transitioning to island life has been challenging but rewarding. Rachel explained the logistics of island living: “We have to take everything over on a small boat and then use wheelbarrows to go around the island. It is a really kind and friendly community”, told the Daily Mail. She described how winters bring solitude, as rough weather limits visitor traffic: “It’s quite empty in the winter… we’re kind of left to ourselves, so it’s a nice time to chill.”

Summer, however, tells a different story. Tourists flock to the pub, filling every corner. “Everybody knows each other quite well. The pub is a real meeting place, and everyone feels a bit of ownership,” Rachel shared. Visitors come from around the world, some leaving currency notes pinned to the ceiling—a tradition showcasing money from countries like Thailand, Brazil, and Australia.

The pub and restaurant, known for its fresh food and drink, underwent a significant makeover last year by designer Banjo Beale for the BBC series Designing The Hebrides. Rachel admitted feeling anxious about the redesign, as the pub previously mirrored the style of an old puffer boat, dark and rich with maritime history. Banjo lightened up the space while preserving the boat theme. “Some of them were a wee bit sad that we were doing it,” Rachel noted, “but I think most people have really taken to it. It brings new life into the pub.”

The island’s annual World Stone Skimming Championships in September brings crowds of up to 2,000 to The Puffer. “The pub gets packed, with people in every corner queuing for beer,” Rachel said. New Year’s Eve also brings unique island festivities, with locals ringing in Hogmanay at The Puffer before diving into a traditional cold-water dip on New Year’s Day, warming up afterward with whisky.

Despite the challenges, Rachel and Jhennia cherish their decision to run The Puffer Bar, though Rachel admits it’s tough: “Sometimes we definitely say to each other, ‘What on Earth were we thinking?’… It’s really hard work, much more than we realized, even just getting food and drink to the pub.” The couple once drove 200 miles round-trip to pick up scallops for a busy event.

In the end, the couple’s life on Easdale is one of resilience, community, and an enduring love for the island’s charm and remoteness.