The Old Wainhouse Inn is conveniently situated, being the only pub on the 20 mile stretch of the A39 between Kilkhampton and Camelford offering a selection of locally sourced food from the restaurant and also bed and breakfast accommodation. Wainhouse Corner is a small village, which has a petrol station with a small shop that is also home to the local Post office. The pub and the village are located on the main crossroads on the side of the A39 and seven miles outside Bude. The pub originally dates back to 1785 and was first known as the ‘Hundred of Stratton Inn’.
Peter and Jenny have been licensees at the Old Wainhouse since 2011 and between them have a wealth of experience in the licensed trade. Peter started working for St Austell Brewery in 1990, after leaving his position as an engineer at Devonport Dockyard to take on the new and exciting challenge of running pubs. Jenny has worked at lots of hotels, holiday locations and restaurants and along with Peter they ran the Bush Inn at Morwentstow for seven years prior to taking over the lease at the Old Wainhouse.
Following an invitation to a Pub is The Hub workshop in Launceston, at which Peter and Jenny met with Reg Clarke their local Pub is The Hub Advisor, the idea of introducing a small library service at the pub was born. This happened to be one of the ideas discussed at the workshop, as a potential scheme which could be introduced to help bring more customers into a rural pub that did not have the benefit of a library nearby. Wainhouse Corner at that time had a Post Office within the shop, and a prescription drop off service. It was felt that the local community would really welcome the idea of a library. The idea was then discussed back at The Old Wainhouse with customers, who all agreed it would be a good idea, as previously the village had a library van which stopped infrequently and only for 30 minutes at a time.
Peter booked an appointment with Reg, Pub is The Hub Advisor who came to see them at the pub and viewed the spare corner of the pub which was available at that time not being used to its full potential. Reg advised on funding that was available locally for their project and also put them in touch with Saltash Library, run by Cornwall Council, who gave further information on what was needed at the pub to get the scheme up and running.
The overall cost of the library project was £1004.34 and £879 of this was paid by a Community Services Fund grant.
The Old Wainhouse Inn’s new library officially opened at the end of January 2014, and Peter and Jenny along with Reg’s assistance, plan on having an official opening and doing some local PR work to help advertise it locally. Already and without advertising it, customers are starting to utilise the library area in the pub and books are being borrowed and enjoyed.
For more information telephone 01423 546165 or email enquiries@pubisthehub.org.uk