15-March_2007 The Morning Advertiser - Royal toast to pubs
Prince Charles values the work of those striving to ensure that pubs remain the hub of community life. Paul Charity reports
Prince Charles has again stressed the importance of the British pub in community life at a reception held at Clarence House last Friday lunchtime.
The reception, attended by dozens of licensees and a host of senior industry figures, was held to mark the fifth anniversary of the launch of his Pub is the Hub campaign.
Prince Charles paid tribute to Pub is the Hub campaign director John Longden, his employer Gerald Eve, and the teams of volunteers who have been involved in more than 300 schemes to help reinforce the role of the pub at the heart of the community.
Licensees were treated to an informal two-hour reception and luncheon where the Prince mingled with guests. It's the second time the Prince has held a party to thank those involved with the Pub is the Hub campaign. A few years ago, he held an informal garden party at his Highgrove home to thank volunteers.
Prince Charles gathered guests in his hallway at Clarence House to thank the "heroes and heroines" involved in saving many pubs since the scheme began.
In a speech with many light-hearted moments, he showed guests the set of darts he was given at a recent visit to the Old Crown, Hesket Newmarket, Cumbria.
He told them that his younger son, Prince Harry, was a much better darts player than he was.
And he raised laughs when he told his audience that he was sorry to read that the game of darts was in decline because of the rise of the gastropub.
"It's rather a worry," he said,holding a set of darts aloft.
"I was given these the other day. I have to say I'm getting rather good at darts. Except my younger son is a great deal better. I'll leave you to guess why."
He also expressed his surprise at having been named a Beer Drinker of the Year by the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group a few years ago.
He claimed the honour must have come his way as a result of newspaper pictures of him drinking beer.
Prince Charles thanked several major companies, including Diageo, Punch, Enterprise Inns, Marston's and Scottish & Newcastle Pub Enterprises for their help and support for Pub is the Hub.
Royal toast to pubs.pdf