Pub is the Hub advises and helps rural pubs, owners, licensees and communities in Great Britain to make a positive impact in responding to and supporting the needs of their local communities by using pubs for the co-location of necessary services and articulating their specialist local needs.
Fund Information
- Funding body:
- Pub is the Hub
- Maximum value:
- £ 3,000
- Application deadline:
- None specified
Background
Pub is the Hub was set up in 2001 through the Rural Action Programme of Business in the Community (BITC), with the support of HRH the Prince of Wales. It encourages breweries, pub owners, licensees and local communities to work together to help retain and enhance rural pubs.
Objectives of Fund
Pub is the Hub encourages rural pub owners, licensees, and their local communities to work together to support, retain and locate local services, where possible, within the pub, whilst often improving the viability of the business itself.
Value Notes
Pub is the Hub provides voluntary advice and guidance with administration support from companies and trade bodies including: the Post Office, the British Beer and Pub Association, the British Institute of Innkeeping and the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
Pub is the Hub assists with guidance on the availability of local and regional project funding, and having a thorough understanding of the pub business, is able to advise on the best way to progress with each individual project.
Assistance provided will:
- help pubs remain sustainable by encouraging diversification into other areas;
- offer information on innovative sustainable alternative financial models such as cooperatives; and
- encourage cooperation and mutual benefit, which is an invaluable instrument of community regeneration.
Financial Support
The provider may be able to assist some projects through its own Community Services Fund, which aims to support projects as a fund of last resort, where no local funding for services currently exists. A grant of up to £3,000 may be provided.
Pub is The Hub does not always have funds to be a direct provider of grants or loans for individual diversification projects. It does, however, provide advice help and support at no cost to licensees and seek to work with the local authorities to find the potential funding sources.
Who Can Apply
Individuals and organisations with the necessary contacts and tools to participate in the Pub is the Hub scheme are eligible to apply (for example, breweries, licensees, pub owners, local communities).
There are a number of different options for not-for-profit community groups to run a pub as a legal entity.
This includes, but is not limited to:
- Community Interest Companies
- Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies
- Parish councils
- Companies Limited by Guarantee
Previous Success
March 2019:
New funding boost to support rural pubs
The government has supported Pub is The Hub with over £500,000 of funding since 2013. It has been announced this month that rural pubs are to receive £188,000 to deliver additional services, including Post Office facilities, shops and libraries.
Minister Jake Berry has announced 76 new projects will receive money through Pub is The Hub. The Community Pubs Minister said:
“Our pubs are at the heart of local communities supporting thousands of jobs and providing places for local residents to not only enjoy a pint, but also to get together.
“The encouragement, advice and support given by the Pub is The Hub is proving invaluable in helping rural pubs expand their offer.
“Pubs are not only places to drink but also home to essential community services and providing welcome meeting places to help tackle rural isolation.”
Government support for Pub is The Hub now totals over £500,000 and includes funding towards its Community Services Fund to help local pub licensees to better understand the needs of locals and deliver on these as best as possible.
September 2018:
Case studies of pubs that have benefited from Pub is The Hub
Swan Inn, Carleton in Craven, North Yorkshire
The licensee at the Swan was keen to create a community space within the pub where villagers and visitors of all ages can enjoy hot drinks and snacks, find local information, access the internet and a printer and meet regularly. Through its Community Services Fund, Pub is The Hub was able to provide advice and funds towards equipment to help provide IT training, adult learning sessions including local history and ancestry as well as a café to host a weekly over 60’s coffee morning.
Saracen’s Head, Shirley, Derbyshire
This long established and highly successful pub/restaurant in the village of Shirley created an essential new service for the village and the surrounding area with a newly incorporated Deli filled with specialist foods including local fruit and vegetables and dairy items, together with home baked goods such as bread, cakes and pastries.
Eligible Expenditure
Pub is the Hub projects range from providing local shops to encouraging the local sourcing of products, accommodating Post Office services, providing local school meals, IT training or community centres and even church services. Many projects today include a local shop, plus other extra facilities, that have developed as a result of the original project.
Location
Great Britain.
How To Apply
This is a rolling programme.
Applications may be submitted at any time.
Contact Pub is The Hub for further information.
Useful documents & links
Useful Links
Addresses and contacts
For further information on how to obtain this grant locally, please contact the following:
- Enquiries
Pub is the Hub
Regional Agricultural Centre
Great Yorkshire Showground
Railway Road
Harrogate
HG2 8NZ
Tel: 01423 546165
Email: [email protected]