EXPANSION OF PUB IS THE HUB SCHEME

24 Feb 2005 03:15 PM

High demand for advice to help village pubs revitalise and maintain essential local services, while increasing their own viability, means the successful Pub is the Hub scheme is set to expand. A new national board and regional help groups are being established to enable the scheme to provide local guidance for many more rural pub projects from the summer onwards, thanks to initial funding from a variety of supporters.

HRH The Prince of Wales said: “Since I started the Pub is the Hub initiative four years ago, I have been overwhelmed by the determination of so many villages to keep their pub at the centre of their communities, despite all the pressures. I have been fortunate to visit a number of successful examples and the ingenuity which has been shown by so many to keep pubs alive by providing essential local services has been quite remarkable.

“But we have also learnt that there is an enormous demand for the sort of advice and help that we are offering and this has meant that we have had to re-think the service that we offer. That is why I could not be more grateful for the support shown by so many companies and trade associations for the initiative and who will now come together to create a national steering body and to establish “help groups” in various regions to provide local and speedy advice to those who need it.

“I hope that this will mean that we can provide an even better service to help those who want to find a way to protect their pub and to reinvigorate their villages and communities by giving them much-needed services.”

Pub is the Hub co-ordinator John Longden, of chartered surveyors Gerald Eve, said: “Following the initial help from Business in the Community and the Post Office with our web site (www.pubisthehub.org.uk), we are delighted to have this funding in place to start involving individuals, the pubs and drinks industry and regional agencies to assist on a wider range of pub diversification projects. It’s all about everyone working together to support sustainable rural services.

“Demand for help to date with pubs in rural areas has far exceeded our capacity, with more than 60 individual requests a week, and this new development will mean much more can be achieved. With the funding so far committed, we are now on the way to our target of £300,000 per annum, although we are not there just yet!”

Supporters include His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales’ Charitable Trust, The Diageo Foundation and Diageo GB, the Post Office, Enterprise Inns, Scottish & Newcastle Pub Enterprises, Punch Taverns, the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII), and the Countryside Agency. Business in the Community is also providing administrative support with office space in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, and Gosschalks, solicitors, legal support.

Geoffrey Bush, of Diageo GB and Chairman of The Diageo Foundation, said:
“Pub is the Hub is shaped around the vital role that pubs can play in UK rural communities. The initiative focuses on working with individual communities to preserve their local services and distinctive character. Diageo is delighted to be both one of the founder sponsors and be part of the wider support across our industry and the voluntary sector for this timely project”.

Sue Huggins, General Manager Rural Post Offices, said:
“Post Office Ltd is delighted to be involved with the Pub is the Hub initiative. Any activity that helps support the sustainability of rural services has our vote. We have successfully partnered with a number of rural publicans, enabling both post office services and the pub to remain open in local communities. Pubs, like post offices, are often at the heart of village life and both are important to the viability of communities. We wish Pub is the Hub every success”.

Margaret Clark, acting Chief Executive of the Countryside Agency, said:
“We are delighted at the success of the Pub is the Hub initiative and to have helped to get it off the ground. It shows that local people and businesses do care about their communities and, working together, they can find practical solutions to maintaining local services. We would like to see this initiative go from strength to strength across the country”

Notes to editors:
Pub is the Hub examples and contacts attached.

For more information on Pub is the Hub - contact John Longden, on (mob) 07831 899265
Tel: 01423 568987, or at chartered surveyors Gerald Eve. on 020 7333 6366.

Issued on behalf of Pub is the Hub by the Countryside Agency – contact Isobel Coy on 0207 340 2907 or (m) 07973 94 28 92

Pub is the Hub encourages social enterprise and diversification projects for pubs where these can deliver commercial viability in supporting rural services which are under threat or have ceased trading.

Launched in 2001 by HRH The Prince of Wales, as President of Business in the Community and its Rural Action team, the scheme looks for innovative ways to ensure rural pubs remain relevant to the needs of local communities so that they can continue to thrive, In some instances, village communities acting as co-operatives have bought their own local pub in order to ensure it is retained as a service centre for the local community. Further information on Pub is the Hub is available from their website at www.pubisthehub.org.uk

Examples and Contacts