Pub is the Hub is a volunteer-led body that seeks to safeguard rural pubs by encouraging them to diversify, through hosting much-needed local community services and activities, from libraries and post offices.
On top of calling for more support for community pub movements, Percy pledged £50,000 of Government money to the cause, saying such schemes provided a “lifeline” for rural communities.
“Pub is the Hub’s work with good licensees has proved a lifeline for many isolated rural communities, helping people to access essential services and activities in the familiar setting of their local,” he told the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group.
“We want our rural pubs to thrive, not only as vital social spaces, but also offer a range of much-needed, important local facilities.
“That’s why we’re putting £50,000 behind the bar for the Community Services Fund and why I’m calling on the industry to further help pubs to do what they do best, bringing whole communities together.”
Since 2012, the Government has put £320,000 of funding behind Pub is the Hub and the movement’s chief executive, John Longden, welcomed the boost in funding.
“The great thing we have discovered about the Community Services Fund is that it provides the impetus to get a pub diversification scheme off the ground with relatively small amounts of funding.
“This announcement is therefore extremely welcome for the 50 or more projects that we have in the pipeline awaiting funding.
“Monetary support like this goes straight back to good, hard-working pub licensees who step in to take on essential local services,” Longden added.