Brewing up a move from pubs to hubs

A COUNCIL is backing an initiative to help rural pubs become community “hubs”.

East Riding Council is forming a partnership with “Pub is the Hub”, a not for profit organisation set up by Prince Charles, to help services relocate to pubs at a time when many hostelries are struggling to survive.

Officers are using a wealth of information from parish plans and its own “data observatory” to identify possible matches between pubs and other bodies looking for a home.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Coun Paul Robinson, who represents Howdenshire, said he would be talking to local landlords to see what they could offer: “It is looking at whether a pub can host a cash machine or the post office a couple of days a week or set aside a room for a youth club.

A launch event will be held this summer. A series of workshops would then be held for licensees and communities, who want to work together.

Karen Wood, rural communities officer, said: “The council is looking forward to working with The Pub is the Hub and our existing rural services to support licensees. The initiative is particularly useful for the very small rural communities that do not have a shop or post office.”