Our Story .

A Family Business

Braw Weekend.jpg

The Oak Tree Inn is very much a family business, opened in 1997 by Sandy and Lucy Fraser.

From little acorns, the company has grown both in size and in people’s hearts, making Balmaha and The Oak Tree one of Loch Lomond's most popular destinations.

Sandy & Lucy's eight children: James, Stuart, Emma, David, Sandy Jnr, Nina, Holly and Ben have each played a vital role in the Oak Tree's growth.

The Frasers are proud that their business is the area’s largest employer, providing an array of jobs across a variety of roles.

Pictured is a team photo taken at the end of Balmaha's Braw Weekend festival, hosted by The Oak Tree Inn.

Oak Tree Milestones

  • People dining outside at The Oak Tree Inn, a rustic-style restaurant with stone and green-painted wood exterior, on a sunny day with trees in the background.

    1997

    The Oak Tree Inn opens for the first time, in a beautiful new building

  • Rustic bedroom with stone and brick walls, wooden ceiling beams, a large bed with white linens and dark pillows, two bedside lamps, a chandelier, a wooden door, and a wall-mounted TV.

    2006

    Additional accommodation options open in a series of nearby converted cottages

  • The exterior of a village shop with a sign that says 'Village Shop,' surrounded by colorful hanging flower baskets, with a cozy and quaint appearance.

    2009

    Balmaha Village Shop opens, serving guests and the local community

  • A small garden with raised beds covered with tarps and supported by sticks, surrounded by a wooden fence and trees under an overcast sky.

    2010

    A new poly tunnel is introduced, growing fruit, vegetable and herbs for our restaurant

  • 2012

    The Oak Tree is named Scotland’s pub of the year for the first time

  • A cup of Loch Lomond ice cream with pink and white ice cream, a black spoon, held by a person's hand in a store setting.

    2013

    Loch Lomond Ice Cream is launched, homemade on-site in Balmaha

  • 2014

    The first St Mocha Coffee Shop and Ice Cream Parlour opens in Balmaha

  • Bronze statue of a man with binoculars, standing next to a backpack and leaning on a stone wall, with a lake, boats, and green trees in the background.

    2014

    The Tom Weir Statue opens in Balmaha, looked after by The Oak Tree Inn

  • An aerial view of a lakeside outdoor event with a large white tent, parked cars, food trucks, and a stage with an audience near the water.

    2015

    10,000 attend Balmaha’s Braw Weekend, our festival of food & music

  • A man in glasses and a white shirt holding a tray with a pink drink, a blue shot glass, and a glass of water inside a restaurant with wooden walls and an open door.

    2016

    VisitScotland features The Oak Tree in their global advertising campaign

  • A boat named 'LOMOND HANNAH' approaching a dock on a calm lake, with green hills and mountains in the background.

    2017

    We introduce a new pontoon which improves access to east Loch Lomond

  • A person is holding a handful of coffee beans while using a metal scoop to transfer more coffee beans, with a large amount of roasted coffee beans spread on a countertop in the background.

    2017

    Loch Lomond Coffee Co., the National Park’s first artisan coffee roasting facility, opens in Balmaha

  • The exterior of a coffee shop called 'The Station' with hanging flower baskets and red chairs outside. The shop has a sign indicating it sells coffee, souvenirs, and gifts.

    2019

    The Station, another St Mocha Coffee Shop, opens at Aberfoyle in the Trossachs.

  • Wooden coffee shop with large sign reading 'St Mocha Carbeth', featuring drive-thru service, and icons for restrooms, food, and coffee, with a small window and a person inside, amidst trees and outdoor seating on a sunny day.

    2020

    The latest St Mocha, the UK’s first drive-thru artisan coffee shop, opens at Carbeth.

  • Man in traditional Scottish attire, including a kilt, delivers a speech at a podium near a river with lush greenery and rocky banks in the background.

    2021

    Sandy Fraser wins a lifetime achievement award at the Scottish Pub & Club Awards.

  • A cute, animated creature resembling a mouse with a lion-like mane, large eyes, and a pink nose, standing on a mossy forest path with a backpack and a walking stick.

    2025

    The fun family-friendly ‘Hunt the Haggis’ scavenger hunt is launched