Pub is the Hub hosts workshop in the Vale of Glamorgan

Pub is The Hub appeals to rural pubs


Pub is The Hub, the independent not-for-profit advisory service for rural pubs is appealing to Vale of Glamorgan landlords in rural areas to attend a pub diversification workshop they are running next Wednesday on 18th July at the Three Golden Cups, Southerndown near Bridgend. At the same time they are offering the pubs the opportunity to apply for improvement funding of up to £40,000 in support.

Working in partnership with Creative Rural Communities, the Vale of Glamorgan’s Rural Regeneration initiative, Pub is The Hub wants to encourage rural pub operators to diversify and offer new services for the benefit of their community. Projects could include initiatives such as post offices, shops, libraries, internet services, cash machines, allotments, cinemas and community play areas.
Part of a national co-operation project for Wales the initiative is funded through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which, in turn, is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Pub is The Hub and Creative Rural Communities will support the administration, funding applications and national advisory service provided for each pub project.

Initiated through Pub is The Hub across eight counties in Wales with support provided by The Prince's Countryside Fund, the project aims to engage with over 90 pubs, with financial support for around 60 that choose to diversify into new services for their communities across eight rural counties; Bridgend, Vale of Glamorgan, Ceredigion, Gwynedd, Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire and Flintshire. The funding is available until the end of 2013 and Pub is The Hub and Cadwyn Clwyd will be working with the Local Action Groups (LAGs) in each area to draw down the capital project funding for schemes approved in their areas.

Speaking at a launch event earlier this year in Betws y Coed in North Wales Alun Davies, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and European Programmes announced a £1.3m package of support for local services in rural pubs in Wales through a joint co-operation initiative between Pub is The Hub and Cadwyn Clwyd (the Regional Development Agency for Denbighshire and Flintshire). He said: “I know how successful the Pub is The Hub initiative has been in bringing many important social, economic and environmental benefits to rural communities.
“Pubs, like many small rural businesses can struggle to trade profitably through providing only the pub functions. The training, advice and guidance being offered to pubs and communities through this project will, I am sure, inspire actions to create new income streams to help sustain pubs for the future. These pubs in turn will benefit their local communities by providing essential basic services.”

John Longden, Chief Executive of Pub is The Hub commented: “The closure of a business in a rural community adversely impacts on the viability of many other businesses leading to a domino-like effect on the collapse of further local services and amenities. Often a rural pub is now the only socially significant business still running in many rural communities. Pub is The Hub is not directly about saving pubs but about supporting them and encouraging them to diversify and support local services in this rapidly changing world.”

Anyone interested in undertaking such a scheme should get in touch with the Mari-Wyn Elias-Jones, Senior Rural Regeneration Officer for the Vale of Glamorgan by calling 01446 704637 or emailing enquiries@pubisthehub.org.uk