Plunkett Foundation: we'll help pub co-ops

A support package has been promised to help communities that want to buy their local pubs, after the Government pulled the plug on new funding.

The 82 communities that had approached the Plunkett Foundation, which supports rural co-op schemes, have all been promised support and advice.

That's the outcome of the "Co-operative Pubs Summit", held in the wake of the Coalition's decision to axe the £3.3m support package for community pubs.

Details of Plunkett's support package available will be discussed this week, but the group said it would contact all those communities that have expressed an interest.

The Campaign for Real Ale, which also attended the summit, is to offer general advice on how communities can save their local from closure.

Where it's appropriate, communities will be pointed towards Pub is the Hub, which offers support to help rural pubs diversify.

Plunkett Foundation chief Peter Couchman said: "We are pleased to say that the outcome of the Co-operative Pubs Summit is that the Co-operative Movement will be developing a package of support to help the 82 communities that have asked for help with saving their local.

"We all felt a strong moral duty to help these communities that the Government has turned its back on.

"The support will not be at the same level as it would have been, but those choosing to go down the co-operative pub route will receive support from highly experienced co-operative developers."

The summit was held at the country's first co-operative pub — the Old Crown in Hesket Newmarket, Cumbria.