Pubs could act as tourist offices

The Stonemasons’ Inn, in Petworth, has converted part of its tea- room into a tourist information centre (TIC) in order to help attract more trade to the pub, and support the local council.

The scheme has been welcomed by the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) and Tourism Alliance, and will please groups such as Pub is the Hub, which encourage alternative uses for pubs that are struggling to survive on drinks and food sales alone.

Sinead May, manageress at the Stonemasons, said: “It’s exciting. Businesses have to adapt to survive in the current financial climate and we had to do something new to bring more people in.

“We already have a tea-room so we just wanted to add to that. Petworth did have a Tourist Information Centre (TIC) but it was tucked round a corner in the library where people couldn’t find it.

“This is a pilot scheme and if it is successful it will be rolled out to other pubs throughout the country. It could be a massive boost to the pub and tourism industries.”

BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds, who is also chair of the Tourism Alliance, praised the initiative.

She said: “Pubs need to diversify and you will often find pubs in towns where there is no Tourist Information Centre (TIC) or post office.

“One of the ways they (pubs) could work for TICs in particular is to assist with the lack of funding from which a lot of TICs currently suffer.

“Another possible scheme could be to provide walks, which take in historic buildings.

“[People in charge of] these buildings could provide information about local pubs.”