Pubs to receive funding boost to broaden community services
Pubs to receive funding boost to broaden community services
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Village pubs across rural Britain are set to benefit from a new £440,000 government funding package designed to help them diversify their services and strengthen their role at the heart of local communities.
The funding, announced as part of the UK Government’s Plan for Change, will support projects that transform pubs into multifunctional community spaces, including new cafés, village stores, play areas and other local amenities. The initiative aims to help pubs adapt to changing rural needs, create jobs and boost social connections.
The projects have been identified by Pub is The Hub, a non-profit organisation that helps pubs expand their community offer. Its recent Social Value Report revealed that more than 40 pub projects were stalled due to lack of funding — despite evidence that such ventures deliver a strong return on investment.
In response, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has committed £440,000 to help Pub is The Hub deliver these projects, with funding expected to support businesses from North Yorkshire to Ceredigion and Cornwall.
Announcing the investment, Kate Dearden, Minister for Employment Rights and Consumer Protection, said the government was determined to secure the future of rural pubs and support their wider social role.
“Rural pubs are hubs of their communities, and this government wants to support these vital community assets, creating jobs, supporting local economies, and providing residents with a place to socialise and come together.
“That’s why, as part of the Plan for Change, we’re keen to help secure their future with this funding, alongside measures to slash red tape, modernise licensing and to create a fairer business rates system.”
New research from Pub is The Hub highlights the significant social and economic impact of these projects. For every £1 invested in diversifying pub services, over £8 in social value is generated through improved wellbeing, job creation, and greater community cohesion.
To date, Pub is The Hub has supported hundreds of diversification projects, from post offices and village shops to community meeting spaces. The organisation now aims to assist 1,000 more pubs over the next three years — creating 2,500 jobs and 1,600 new services for more than one million residents.
John Longden OBE, Chief Executive of Pub is The Hub, said the funding recognition from government underlined the crucial role pubs play in rural and deprived areas.
“We would like to thank the Department for Business and Trade for recognising the important role that pubs and publicans have in rural and deprived areas.
“Publicans with their individual pub businesses have a vital social role in supporting local communities and helping people to overcome social isolation and alleviate feelings of loneliness. They have a significant social value that is beyond economic impact. They are crucial in helping to bring people together and inspiring the provision of lost services and amenities.”
To mark the launch of the funding, Minister Kate Dearden met with John Longden, CEO of Pub is The Hub, Tonia Antoniazzi MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, and Molly Davis from the British Institute of Innkeeping. The meeting discussed how the funding could help struggling pubs adapt and thrive, alongside the government’s wider support for the hospitality sector.
Nick Mackenzie, CEO of Greene King and Co-Chair of the Licensing Taskforce, welcomed the announcement and praised Pub is The Hub’s work in helping pubs diversify.
“We are pleased to be long-term supporters of Pub Is The Hub, which works so hard to help pubs with practical advice in extending their community services.
“No one can underestimate the huge social and economic value of pubs. Our pubs are more than bricks and mortar where people eat and drink – they are places where people come together for all occasions and celebrations, they offer local employment and careers for people of all ages and can help in tackling loneliness.
“Additional access to funding and less red tape is some welcome news to help pubs continue to adapt to meet the needs of their local communities.”
The funding marks a significant step in the government’s efforts to support hospitality businesses through challenging times, while reaffirming the vital social role of the British pub — not only as a place to raise a glass, but as a cornerstone of community life.
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