Alex and Rebecca Bourne have re-opened the last remaining pub in the Suffolk village of Little Thurlow with a village shop and café to broaden the pub’s appeal.
Closed since February 2016, the community had feared that they would lose their last village pub located between Newmarket and Haverhill and had begun to galvanise support to keep it open as a community-run venture. Fortunately, Alex and Rebecca Bourne stepped in to purchase the sixteenth century former coaching inn, much to the relief of Thurlow’s residents.
Alex said: “With lots of other rural pubs in the area closing I felt that we had to broaden our appeal and increase regular footfall to the pub. There are now no other pubs in Thurlow or a village shop and we have lots of space here at the pub. I have long-admired the work that Pub is The Hub has been doing in incorporating other services within pubs so it seemed like the natural thing to do here.
“These days people want convenience, not just beer and sandwiches. The shop will be stocked with convenience items that people need every day as well as locally sourced and supplied goods. At the same time, we have a coffee shop in the pub so that mums and dads doing the school run can pop in for a coffee and a cake for somewhere to meet. We have superfast broadband available so that the many self-employed home workers in this area can bring their laptops to work or meet colleagues.”
He adds: “Pubs have to be all things to all men these days. We can’t rely on people occasionally popping in for a beer anymore and have to be more all-encompassing.”
Bernard Lee, the advisor for Pub is The Hub added: “Alex and Rebecca have thrown themselves wholeheartedly into this project and revitalised a much-loved and essential village asset. Quite rightly, the community should be proud and thrilled to make use of these additional servies.”
Alex and Rebecca opened the pub at the end of July and local MP Matt Hancock officially opened the shop and café last week.
The main photograph shows Lucy Herring, Alex Bourne and Hanna Macintosh displaying a selection of their shop’s essentials.
