East Midlands [Active]
What is Pub is the Hub?
Rural pubs are often at the heart of their community and Pub is the Hub [PITH] is actively helping to ensure that they remain this way.
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 brewers, pub groups, suppliers, local publicans, and their communities to help improve vital rural services.
Background to the scheme
PLEASE NOTE: APPLICATIONS CLOSED ON 31st March 2007
Research shows over 70% of villages no longer have a local convenience shop or Post Office, and approximately 60% no longer have a village pub. Pubs can 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.
The opportunities
Rural pubs in the East Midlands have previously had grant support available to enable them 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, rural schemes can often make vast and positive difference to the general success of the pub itself.
Our unique strength
PITH's unique strength, as it has evolved, is the ability to create and maintain links with a wide range of individuals and organisations that are all committed to assisting local initiatives. The pub industry itself remains very dynamic and PITH and the East Midlands Development Agency understand that pubs and their associated services must also be viable, in the future, to be supported. The support project combined effective advice to share best practice, policy and ideas nationally. It linked together people from pubs, businesses and community disciplines who provide a wide range of direct experience of rural pubs, as well as planning, research and marketing skills.
There are
- Nearly 200 outlets in England supplying Post Office services;
- 80 in-pub convenience shops, and;
- 30 pubs participating in the Locals Online scheme, which offers IT training to people in remote rural areas.
What the scheme is
The Rural Pub Service Grant Scheme aimed at supporting rural pubs develop a range of services in addition to their general pub business.
- The scheme ran for one year until 31st March 2007.
- Grant aid covered eligible capital costs for conversion / refurbishment and professional fees.
- The grant did not exceed 75% of eligible costs and the maximum grant was up to £10,000.
- Grants were available in the rural areas of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Rutland and Northamptonshire.
- Priority was given to rural settlements with a population of up to 5,000 people.
What could your rural pub support?
The grants available in the East Midlands were to help set up services that the rural community needs based from the local pub. These included:
- Village shop / Convenience goods store
- Post Office
- Local fresh farm produce
- Library
- Pharmaceutical or health services
- Meeting or events venue
- Youth & Education Facilities
- IT Centre / Internet facility
- Creche
- Community services
Key aspects of all projects
To be considered for the grants, your project must have:
- Shown evidence of need and support from the local community.
- Created new or safeguard existing jobs.
- Represented value for money.
- Contributed to the viability of the pub business.
- Be feasible in terms of demand.
- Be practical - could be completed by 31st March 2007.
Make a real difference
"It is encouraging to see the difference a Pub is the Hub scheme can make to its local community. The rural pub 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, it increases turnover and creates part-time jobs in the area. It also acts assists local suppliers and ensures the community retains its heart. We look forward to recieving you application."
PLEASE NOTE: APPLICATIONS HAVE NOW CLOSED.
John Longden, Campaign Director, Pub is the Hub
Help & Advice
East Midlands Development Agency 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 "EMDA Registration of Interest" form at the top right hand corner of this page.
The region currently covers the rural areas of Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland.