Micro-library, take-away food service, bike shed
Publicans Rachel and Mark Graham have always put the community at the heart of their pub – The Star Inn at Vogue, Cornwall. The couple have run the Punch lease for around 20 years in this small hamlet in the parish of St Day, three miles from Redruth.
The pub is located in a former mining area and the parish is at the heart of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape (a World Heritage Site).
Diversifying is a central part of the pubs offer. The couple have introduced various schemes to support the community, some with funding help from Pub is The Hub and others with their own funding.
Diversified services
Over the years the pub has diversified into a number of services with a micro library, a work club, take away food, hairdressers and an IT access point
It was as far back as 2013 that they heard about Pub is The Hub and jumped at the idea of adding a community library to their comfortable TV room. They received a small grant from the Community Services Fund in November 2013 which they used to install shelving, a computer terminal and signage outside the pub. Books were installed by the end of November and the library was open by December 2013.
At the time Cornwall Council’s library service was involved ensuring that the books on shelves were regularly updated and books requested online by The Star Inn’s library members delivered at least once a fortnight. The library is still running today, with people still borrowing books, but without the support of the library service.
Since establishing the community library Mark and Rachel were inspired to look at other opportunities to deliver services to the local community.
Further plans
In April 2017, they started their take-away food service, giving the locals the opportunity to pre-order delicious freshly cooked food to be enjoyed in their own homes. The food take-away service remains a popular service in this small community today.
The Star Inn is on a route of the Cornish cycle path. In recent years the pub introduced a bike shed, with the support of Pub is The Hub, allowing the local community and customers to safely lock and store their bikes whilst in the pub or pub gardens.
The publicans still have more plans to open a caravan and camping club at the venue.
The pub also offers friendly space and a warm welcome for people to get together and socialise.
Rachel Graham said: “We have a friendly bunch in here. Many of the older generation come in to visit and have a chat to the locals.”
Pub is The Hub regional advisor Reg Clarke said: “The Star is well known as a local pub that will go the extra mile to help the community. These publicans have been at this pub for more than 20 years and the customers and community really support their efforts.”