There were tears and laughter as Ladbrokes Dunoon served its final customers on April 26, bringing the curtain down on a bookmaker that had been part of the town for around 70 years.
Despite the sadness of the closure, staff made sure the shop went out on a positive note, raising funds for local causes and giving back to the community that had supported them for decades.
Donations totalling 800, collected from staff and generous customers, were shared among several local organisations, including Cowal Elderly Befrienders, Crossroads, the Recovery Corner and the Meeting Place.
Customer service manager, Yvonne Love, described the final day as deeply emotional.
She said: A big thank you to all our customers, past and present.
Also a big shout out to our staff, past and present.
The last day was very emotional. Both Caroline and myself worked the last day and there were lots of tears as we said goodbye to our loyal customers.
She added that the moment the doors finally closed was particularly difficult, commenting: There were definitely tears as Caroline locked the doors for the last time and handed over the shop keys to our area manager, John Neill.
The closure follows the wider decline in high street betting, with more customers moving online, a shift that had gradually changed the role of the shop in recent years. As previously noted by staff, the Dunoon branch had become as much a social hub as a place to place bets, with regulars dropping in daily for conversation, tea and companionship.
Yvonne was keen to recognise those who had been part of that community over the years, paying special tribute to a familiar face who served in the bookies for half a century: An extra thank you to Lucy Richmond, who is a legend.
Although the day marked the end of an era, it also highlighted the strong bonds formed within the shop.
Yvonne confirmed all staff have been made redundant, but thanked those who gave flowers to herself and her colleagues.
As Dunoon says goodbye to one of its long-standing local businesses, the legacy of Ladbrokes will live on in the impact it had on the community and in its final act of generosity that ensured its closing chapter was a positive one.
