Cumbria
Rural pubs are often at the heart of their community and Pub is the Hub (PITH) encourages support for local services to help them stay that way. Research shows over 70% of villages no longer have a shop or Post Office. Indeed nearly 60% no longer have a village pub.
Pubs often provide the only meeting place, where for example, there is no village hall. They also offer employment opportunities and contribute to the local tourist industry by providing overnight accommodation or running local events.
Rural pubs have potential to assume a wider business and community role in the future as one-stop shops for essential rural services helping to revitalise rural economies and communities. As well as providing services that may be lacking in a village, such as a Post Office or a shop, they can often make the difference between economic success and failure for the pub itself and support local suppliers.
PITH is affiliated to the Rural Action Programme of Business in the Community and was initiated by its President His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to encourage breweries, pub groups, suppliers, local publicans, and their communities to help enhance vital rural services. The unique strength of PITH, as it has evolved, is the ability to link together experienced people from a wide variety of rural pub and business disciplines with local Government interests all connected with supporting resilient local initiatives.
PITH is more about diversification and not preservation but provides the appropriate advice and support for local communities to access rural services appropriate to their needs. The project works with individual licensees, communities, local businesses, rural services and professionals as well as regional agencies to share best practice, policy and ideas.
Now with over 200 pubs in England supplying Post Office services and 80 running shops and 30 participating in the Locals Online scheme which offers IT training to people in remote rural areas. PITH is expanding and in partnership with Cumbria County Council a Regional Advisory Group has been created to offer more local advice for projects.
Some villages have also been advised in purchasing their own community pub, often providing additional services as found at The Old Crown at Heskett Newmarket where the village bought both the pub and small brewery at the rear of the property but also created their own library.
The grants available in Cumbria are to help set up services that the rural community needs, based from the local pub.
Think about what your rural pub could support and what would benefit the community?
E.g. Villageshop, Post Office, Farm Shop, Local Food Library.
Pharmacy, Health Services, Meeting Space, Youth & Education Facilities.
Think about what your community needs and talk to us.
"It is encouraging to see the difference a Pub is the Hub scheme can make in its local community. The rural pub in Cumbria is essential to the community and by supporting it with shared services they will support you. Whilst it is hard work serving both pints of milk and beer as well as postal services, in its way it increases turnover and creates part-time jobs in the area as well as assisting local suppliers and ensuring the community retains its heart".
John Longden, Campaign Director, Pub is the Hub
Help & Advice
Cumbria County Council is working in partnership with Pub is the Hub. There are grants available to assist rural pubs in the region in carrying out Pub is the Hub type projects that will benefit their local communities. Please download and complete the "Cumbria Registration of Interest" form at the top right hand corner of this page.
PITH Cumbria launch 20060328.pdf