Pub is the Hub

The Chequers is an idyllic country pub situated in the centre of Great Tey, a small village of 798 people, in the heart of the Essex countryside, approx 7 miles West of Colchester. Terry Hunter and Natalie Burket took over the pub in November 2010.  The pub had been developed as a gastro-pub by the previous tenants, which was not received well by the local residents. Terry has been involved with the licensing trade for most of his working life, and recognised this straight away.  Consequently, Terry and Natalie set about changing the whole concept and food offering, and established a more traditional pub offering. They now have good locally sourced fresh food giving the customers the reassurance of fresh and superior quality meals.

As a result of their actions they quickly gained the support of the villagers and nearby residents in the wider community, and because of this support Terry and Natalie decided to give something back to the community. The village shop closed down two years ago, and the post office, which was incorporated in the business, kept going until last year and is now part-time in the village hall.  People in the village kept remarking to Terry that the village shop was shut and they had to go two or three miles to Marks Tey if they needed anything.  After the licensees became aware that the village was lacking a shop, they set out exploring the possibilities of providing this essential service. They discussed this with the customers and the Parish Council, and then put a small advert in the village-link news sheet; and got the support they were looking for; the villagers were all in favour so they started making plans.

Terry had a spare room at the back of the pub, which was ideal for a small shop, and he set about putting shelving counters etc, into this room which conveniently leads out to the rear car park, and therefore lends itself to this sort of use and can easily be accessed without customers going through the bars.
The shop provides a friendly local service to the whole community, making life easier for those who find it more difficult to travel into Colchester town.  It sells a full range of products and at the same time utilises pub existing staff, and the opening of the shop not only saves time and money for the residents but also reduces the carbon footprint of the village and the wider community.
In providing this essential service, it has brought the village community together, with people meeting up to chat in the shop, and has also benefited local suppliers.  The shop is now a thriving part of the business and along with a Library Book-Swap Club and free community Wi-Fi, it has helped to make the pub more sustainable.

• Local authority backing and a small amount of capital grant funding
• Talk to your customers and get their support
• Gain support of your parish Council
• Able to successfully apply for a small amount of grant funding from local authority
• Brewery consent

PROJECT CAPITAL COSTS (EXCLUDING VAT)
Total project capital costs                                                  £4,000.00
Applicant contribution                                                       £2,000.00
Essex County Council Big Society Fund grant contribution    £2,000.00

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