Yorkshire publicans Sharon and Martin Hincks have opened a community café at the Bosville Arms in Rudston, near Bridlington, to provide a place for locals to meet up and socialise.
As well as offering a place for local people to get together it also appeals to walkers, cyclists, parents and carers of young children as well as older residents in the village and surrounding area. It offers Italian artisan coffee, hot chocolates, a range of teas, including Yorkshire Tea, as well as cakes made by local business Ginger Bakers.
The café is open daily between midday to 5pm but there are plans to extend this with a breakfast offer. The pub also offers a pre-order service allowing groups to book in for breakfasts.
The community café was opened with the expert help and a Community Services Fund grant from Pub is The Hub, the not-for-profit organisation that helps pubs to diversify and provide essential local services.
The community-owned pub had been closed for five years before being bought out by local villagers through Rudston Community Pub Ltd. The Bosville Arms was the only community facility left in Rudston, apart from the village hall, as the village had already lost its shop, petrol station and post office.
Publicans Sharon and Martin Hincks, who jointly have 27 years working in the pub sector, opened the pub in May bringing the local back to its former glory and making it the hub of the local area.
Sharon Hincks said: “The community café is an important part of the pub in offering somewhere for locals and groups to connect and come together. People are really enjoying the café vibe and meeting with old friends and new ones there too.
“We are looking to extend the opening hours and hope to set up a book club to meet in the café.”
Pub is The Hub regional advisor Nigel Williams said: “The committee and volunteers of the community-owned pub worked hard to get the pub ready for re-opening. Publicans Sharon and Martin provided the expert finishing touches to help get the Bosville Arms up and running.
“This community café is really key in helping local people to connect and socialise, particularly after the lockdowns of the pandemic which caused many people of all ages to experience feelings of loneliness. The pub has already become a hub of the local area.”