by Tony Halstead
Desperate licensees are besieging Pub is the Hub with pleas for help in a bid to revitalise their businesses and stave off the threat of closure.
The website of the organisation which helps rural pubs diversify received a staggering 14,500 hits during March, with 500 pubs filling in help questionnaires.
Sixty licensees made direct requests for assistance and advice in setting up new business schemes, such as village shops and extra community services.
Co-ordinator John Longden admitted the organisation could barely cope with the level of enquiries. He fears the volume of interest may reflect the fact that rural pubs are in a more parlous economic state than previously estimated. "The floodgates appear to have been opened," he said. "Our administrative resources are being over-stretched and we are having to take on extra help."
Longden is now to devote an extra day each week to the Hub's activities, but regional field officers and extra administrative help are most urgently required.
Enquiries shot up after Pub is the Hub announced a new package of financial help from brewers, pub companies and other organisations in February. Website hits have risen from 4,800 in January and 7,700 in February.
"More people appear to be aware of Pub is the Hub after the publicity which followed our new sponsorship announcement," said Longden.
The official launch of a northern Pub is the Hub steering group at the Boar's Head, Ripley, North Yorkshire, is on 26 May, sponsored by the Countryside Agency. A southern group will be launched at Diageo's Park Royal HQ in North London on 12 July.