"Rural communities, and this country's rural way of life, face unprecedented challenges ... the country pub, which has been at the heart of village life for centuries, is disappearing in many areas. Providing services from the pub, such as a post office or a shop, keeps an essential service in the village." HRH The Prince of Wales.
Pub is the Hub was initiated by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2001, as President of Business in the Community. It is affiliated to His Royal Highness's Rural Action Programme, and is a 'not for profit' advisory organisation.
Pub is the Hub encourages rural pub owners, licensees, and local communities to work together to support,retain and locate services within the pub which can often improve the viability of the business itself. Pub is the Hub assists with guidance on availability of project funding, and having a thorough understanding of the pub business, is able to advise on the best way to progress with each individual project.
Pub is the Hub has formed successful partnerships with regional development agencies, local authorities, rural community councils and other public and private sector organisations, developing a solid track record of rural project development and delivery, and assisting the public and private sector to invest funds effectively.
Over the past 9 years, Pub is the Hub has provided advice to communities, to help them take over their local pub. Our advisers have extensive experience in the pub industry, and provide communities with advice and support to help ensure that the pub they are planning to operate is viable and can have a sustainable future.
We have experience of a range of community ownership models, including co-operatives and community interest companies.
In many cases, communities do not have to buy the freehold of the pub, and our in-depth knowledge of the pub industry has enabled us to develop a number of community lease and tenancy models. These can be highly beneficial, as they do not require a community to raise significant amounts of capital, it is a lower risk model, and it allows any capital raised to be spent improving trading areas, and meeting revenue costs, etc. An option to purchase the pub at a later date can be built into the lease.
In all cases we focus on community development and building the capacity of community members to run their pub. This is achieved through training, and developing the specialist business skills with support from pub owners, regional brewers or through the British Institure of Innkeeping.
We have provided advice and support to over 30 communities considering running their local pub, and the most important issues are the development of a robust business model, followed by the development of the necessary skills to run the pub, rather than a requirement for loans or grants to help with the capital purchase.
Have a look at the case studies on our website to see some examples of successful community operated pubs or alternatively contact us at any time by phone or email.
Video: Pub is the Hub Cumbria
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In the News
08-Sep-2010
Monring Advertiser - Pub is the Hub launches in Wales
At least 50 rural Welsh pubs could get help to offer new services under the Pub is the Hub scheme.
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21-Aug-2010
EDP 24 - Award-winning pub opens real ale shop
The owners of an historic pub have signalled the return of a village shop to a south Norfolk community after opening a real ale shop in a former tap room
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12-Aug-2010
BBC North East Wales - Villagers who run Llanarmon's Raven Inn take over the post office
Villagers are celebrating their first anniversary running the community pub - by taking over the post office.
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