The organisation helps pubs offer additional services such as delis, local shops and even libraries that may have been lost from these communities.
Pub is the Hub chief executive John Longden and its regional adviser for the south-west, Reg Clarke, welcomed Wood, MP for Dudley South and chair of the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group, and Double, MP for St Austell and Newquay, at the St Austell Brewery.
Micro library
The group first visited the Farmers Arms in St Columb Minor run by Karen and Steve Simmons. The pub has a micro library managed with Cornwall Council’s Library Services and a work club that offers community-based support for local unemployed people.
MPs were then shown round the Blue Anchor in Fraddon, managed by Pam Deaves and Steve Brown. Each month, the site puts on a local farmers’ market in its car park, which provides a valuable outlet for local suppliers as well as being a resource for local residents and an attraction for visitors to the area.
Village store
The next stop on the tour was a pub with a village store in a tiny old store room by the bar. Anouska House and Andy Andreaou, licensees of the Miners Arms in Mithian, provide essential food and convenience items in addition to locally made arts and crafts.
Finally, MPs were shown the micro library at the Star Inn at Vogue near St Day. Licensees Mark and Rachel Graham run the library and also offer residents a work club, takeaway food, hairdressers, IT access point and a camping and caravan site.
Vital part of the community
Wood said: “Pubs are a tremendous force for good in the UK. A vital part of our communities. Nothing demonstrates this better than the schemes that Pub is the Hub supports. Today’s visit encapsulates the incredible work being done by hard-working pub operators who are taking their time to give so much back to their communities.”
Longden added: “We have been incredibly fortunate in Cornwall in that the local council and community organisations have all collaborated together and been very supportive of our work. They see that with some adaptation and creativity, pubs can improve essential community services in rural or remote locations in the county.”