About

Inspired by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales in 2001, Pub is The Hub operates as a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation dedicated to improving community services and activities.  We offer advice and support to publicans and their communities who are looking to relocate, re-open or introduce vital services and activities in their local pub, as well as to communities considering the options for acquiring their local pub and the range of responsibilities involved.

We facilitate projects by encouraging and helping publicans, communities, and other interested parties to connect and share their experiences and work together to support and sustain their local services.  We also try to help source local funding opportunities for projects.

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Vision: matching rural community needs and services to make it happen

Our vision is about matching the community’s priorities to new services which can be provided by great licensees in their pubs. It’s about bringing interested groups and organisations together, often for the first time, to meet common goals and help local initiatives take place.

Values: lead, advise and influence

Pub is The Hub act as a guide – an independent sounding board, a source of advice, with a wealth of experience and local knowledge to support rural pubs and communities to reach common goals. We also advise communities considering collective ownership partnerships and give them access to the advice they may need to save or maintain their local services also involving the pub. As well as generating awareness and mobilising communities, we seek to influence regional (and national) policy and practice in rural services and related public sectors. We respond to particular current local and national needs, developing different, flexible and innovative business approaches to supporting the appropriate community services within the pub by a good licensee.

Rural communities, and this country’s rural way of life, face unprecedented challenges. The country pub, which has been at the heart of village life for centuries, is disappearing in many areas. Providing services from the pub, such as a post office or a shop, keeps an essential service in the village. – HRH The Prince Of Wales

Pub is The Hub, Chief Executive, John LongdenJohn Longden OBEChief Executive
Simon TheakstonChairman
Director, WalesMalcolm HarrisonDirector, Wales
Advisor, East Anglia Region, Terry StorkTerry StorkAdvisor, East Anglia
Advisor, West Country and Wales, Roger BelleRoger BelleAdvisor, West Country and Wales
Advisor, South West Region, Reg ClarkeReg ClarkeAdvisor, South West
Tim TempestAdvisor - South East
Jeremy EnglishAdvisor - Hertfordshire
Nigel WilliamsAdvisor - Yorkshire/NE/Derbyshire
Phil DixonAdvisor, West Midlands and Staffordshire
Roger WalkerAdvisor, property and taxation
Michelle PerrettPR & Media Advisor
Jo BrucePR & Media Advisor
Nicky HarrisProject Administrator

Our Background

Since its inception in 2001, Pub is The Hub has continuously evolved as an independent not-for-profit body where many experienced professionals from licensed property work in partnership with other businesses, local authorities and third sector colleagues.

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Our Funding

We could not exist without sponsorship from the pub and drinks sector, in-kind help from associated suppliers and through grants and other funding from the industry, Government and other interested business friends.

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