Community café: Hot food provision supports local people in Kent village
The George stands at the centre of the village of Bethersden in Kent. It has been a drinking establishment since the 17th Century, becoming a licensed pub in 1841.
For decades it was the focus of village life with locals referring to it as ‘the heart of the village’.
The historic freehouse closed during the second lockdown in 2020, as the pub owner decided on a career change. A group of village residents launched a campaign to buy the pub, setting up The George Community (a Community Benefit Society) in August 2021 and successfully took over the pub in February 2023.
By Summer 2023 the pub had reopened. Part of the consultation process with villagers highlighted a need for the pub to provide a wider offering to the community and opening a café was considered an ideal way of achieving this.
A Pub is The Hub grant supported the opening of the new community café, which has proved to be a bit hit with all types of customers. It provides an opportunity for people living alone, parents and toddlers, families, and groups to meet and socialise in a relaxed environment and welcoming space.
A selection of games and puzzles are available for children to play with and there is a secure garden area with outdoor games for when parents and carers want to enjoy their coffee or tea and cake outside on the pub’s terrace.
Demand for hot food
Soon after opening it became clear that there was a major demand for the community café and that there needed to be an increase in its food offer to include hot items.
A second Pub is The Hub Community Services Fund grant provided for kitchen equipment items, including a grill, which meant that the café was able to provide a wider food offer to those living locally.
The George launched its hot food offer at the end of 2023. It soon became apparent that this was very popular with people living locally and that the community café and wider food offer, including hot food, needed more space.
The result is that the pub is currently in the process of reconfiguring a room behind the bar to permanently home the grill and a preparation area for the hot food offering, with a relaunch planned for September 2024.
The George opens as a café between 10.30am to 4pm daily, offering delicious homemade cakes from village bakers Avril and Barbara.
Reconnecting the village
Michele Sadler, community officer for The George said: “The café has been a great success at bringing new customers into the pub as well as reconnecting the village as a whole, and helping people locally to overcome loneliness and isolation. There is a warm welcome for everyone at The George Café.”
Tim Tempest, regional advisor at Pub is The Hub, said: “This pub is truly at the heart of its community. The popularity of this community café has meant major expansion of the hot food offer. This café is also a hub for villagers to come together and provides an opportunity for more social interaction in this rural area.”
A recent visitor to The George said: “We are so pleased that it is becoming the focal point of the community again and the ‘go to’ meeting point for people.”