Would one help my Hub?
Prince Charles has called for new ideas to publicise the work of Pub Is The Hub to enable the rural regeneration body to operate on a national basis.
The plea came as HRH the Prince of Wales visited a Cumbrian village inn to highlight the work being done to rejuvenate ailing rural pub businesses. The Prince is anxious that more people become aware of how the Hub can diversify pubs and help rural communities.
The Royal call for help could be partly answered by the Government after Rural Affairs Secretary Hilary Benn, who took part in the visit, signalled he could be prepared to help. Benn expressed great interest in the Hub's work and asked organisers to give him details of all agencies currently supporting the group.
Hub director John Longden said encouraging noises had come from the visit this week to the Black Swan, Ravenstonedale, Cumbria, which he described as one of the best projects the movement had yet carried out.
Pub owners Louise and Alan Dinnes rescued the freehouse from the doldrums two years ago and the opening of a village store provided Ravenstonedale with the first shop the village had seen in 20 years.
Apart from giving a vital community service, Longden said the opening of the shop had achieved a dramatic carbon-footprint benefit. "Villagers no longer have to travel eight miles to the nearest shop, which saves 100,000 road miles each year or the equivalent of taking 10 cars off the road." he added.
Business building at the Black Swan
The Black Swan at Ravenstonedale is now a flourishing community outlet thanks to the efforts of licensees Louise and Alan Dinnes and Pub Is The Hub.
The village shop scheme cost a total of £12,400, financed in equal measure by the Dinneses and the Cumbria County Council. The Dinneses have invested a total of £150,000 in the business, which now boasts 11 letting bedrooms, a restaurant and flourishing bar.
The couple were new to the trade when they bought the struggling business in 2006, but in two years business turnover has tripled and staff numbers boosted from just two people to 26 full and part-time workers, providing vital local jobs.
"We have come a long way in two years, but we cannot afford to stand still now. The important thing in business is moving things on," said Alan.
