Pub is the Hub urges Welsh pubs to introduce new services for local community

It has warned that licensees of rural pubs should apply before the end of summer or risk losing a share of a package of support worth £1.3m. The package was launched in March 2012.

Under the terms of the package, Pub is the Hub must engage with 90 pubs, with the aim of funding at least 60 businesses that choose to diversify into new services for their communities. It is available for pubs in Bridgend, Vale of Glamorgan, Ceredigion, Gwynedd, Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire and Flintshire.

The funding is managed by Cadwyn Clwyd on behalf of the Welsh Assembly with support provided by the Prince’s Countryside Fund.

So far, Pub is the Hub says that 52 pubs have expressed an interest in diversification with 38 having more than one visit to discuss ideas. A further 24 have considered applying, and eight have made an application.

Pub is the Hub has held two workshops in the Vale of Glamorgan and Flintshire for 12 licensees, with a further two planned for pubs in Gwynedd and Ceredigion in February. In the past few months pubs have launched village shops, a community playground and a pub heritage centre.

“While we’ve made great progress so far we still need pubs to come forward to take advantage of the funding window and this closes at the end of summer,” said Pub is the Hub director Malcolm Harrison. “Great opportunities like this don’t come along very often for pubs, so it would be a shame for anyone to miss out.”

Call 01423 546165 for more information on the upcoming workshops.