Focus
Pub is The Hub: Supporting local rural communities
16th June 2011
Rural pubs are very often at the heart of the communities in which they are based. But as the countryside faces unprecedented challenges, many local pubs are starting to disappear.
Realising that local communities needed to work together to prevent this, in 2001 The Prince of Wales encouraged the creation of the Pub is The Hub scheme, which combines essential local services - such as a post office, internet café, village shop, or all three and more - with the local pub.
Through The Prince’s work as President of Business in the Community, the scheme is affiliated to The Prince’s Rural Action Programme, which supports rural communities.
For the first time since its inception 10 years ago, Pub is The Hub has conducted research to find out how local communities are benefitting from the scheme.
Results from the report “Pub is The Hub: Evaluating the Impact of Initiatives 2011”, found a number of social, economic and environmental benefits to local rural areas.
For example, 100 per cent of those surveyed agreed that their local Pub is The Hub scheme is either ‘very important’ or ‘important’ to their community, and over four-fifths agreed that the schemes help the area they live in look more attractive.
According to the report, virtually all of those that responded to the survey believe that the Pub is The Hub scheme is supporting local suppliers and businesses.
The Prince of Wales said: “This report shows that rural pubs can bolster a rural economy, provide local jobs for local people, increase the sense of wellbeing in the area, and, ultimately, preserve the heart and soul of Britain’s rural communities.”
Further information
Visit the Pub is the Hub website
Read a full copy of the report: Pub is The Hub: Evaluating the impact of initiatives 2011