Pub is the Hub

I have been contacted by John Longden OBE, Chief Executive of Pub is The Hub who has asked me to share the following information with our local pubs.

“As a ‘member’ or supporter of our Pub is The Hub family over the years, I thought it might be helpful to let you know that your local pub landlords can still access advice and support from us. There are many licensees whose pub businesses may be closed, but who are still looking for ways to diversify and support their local community, especially the lonely and most vulnerable people. The attached leaflet and link below explain very simply how we can help them do just that!

“Over the last few weeks, working with pub, brewing and hospitality businesses, we have seen great landlords, hotel and catering staff and communities do their bit, working hard on the frontline to help reduce the hardships created by coronavirus.

“At Pub is The Hub, we are busy helping new forms of services and activities evolve from pubs, particularly in remote rural areas. Some country pubs that are currently closed have offered takeaway services or have created response and distribution hubs for their villagers, who may not be lucky enough still to have their own village store. New supply chains have been formed to include local sources perhaps previously overlooked, such as butchers, bakers and farms, and many licensees are already making plans to help their community further when they are able to reopen, by offering virtual theatre, poetry or comedy nights.

“Pub is The Hub now have over 40 different types of services and activities being provided by pubs nationwide, from village stores to libraries and community cafes serving takeaways to allotments. Many of these projects were made possible by support from the MHCLG and the benefits they have brought to all age groups have been immense. Social value is not always an easy concept to get across, but it is one which we measure closely and formally throughout the life of each project. The benefits of bringing a Pub is the Hub project to a community have never been clearer.

“Our Pub is The Hub team have risen to the Covid19 challenge, offering home based advice and support and this commitment means we are very much still here for good landlords, their staff and suppliers and their local residents just when they need us most.

“To highlight this, I wondered if you could very kindly forward the attached leaflet and direct link to our ‘Contacts’ page here: https://www.pubisthehub.org.uk/contact/ to any of your pub trade constituents, other organisations or local authorities who may benefit from collaborating with us.”