Pubs across Wales could still benefit from grants to help them diversify their services.

Pub is The Hub is supporting pub diversification projects with advice and small grants to help publicans who want to provide much needed local services and amenities in rural areas across Wales.

Pub is The Hub is a not-for-profit organisation which offers independent specialist advice to publicans on rural services diversification so they can provide viable local services at the heart of their community. 

In 2022, the not-for-profit organisation received a grant of £25,000 from The Prince’s Countryside Fund to support Welsh pubs. This could include a wide range of diversification projects such as village stores, community cafes, IT Hubs, allotments and libraries.

The first project supported under the scheme was the Ty’n Llan in Llandwrog, North Wales. Expert help and a Community Services Fund grant from Pub is The Hub was provided to help support the pub’s calendar of social events, groups and volunteer opportunities.  The grant helped with the purchase of equipment to assist these groups, including a crock pot, soup warmer, bingo machine, portable PA, IT equipment, PlayStation, iPad, and garden tools. 

This has helped to support an over 60s lunch club, quiz and bingo evenings for all the community, and local clubs including a young people’s group, which have Chromebooks and a PlayStation for educational sessions, entertainment and socialising.

The Tafarn y Plu, which is also known at the Feathers Inn, in Llanystumdwy, Gwynedd in North Wales, diversified its pub’s offer by extending its community garden and allotment to help local residents get together and to help combat loneliness and isolation.

There are now also opportunities for more volunteers, including those with mobility issues, to be involved in the upkeep of the garden.  There are also exciting plans for the local primary school to help with some of the raised beds to educate and show local children how to grow their own food.

Malcolm Harrison, Wales advisor and director at Pub is The Hub, said:

“This marvellous support and encouragement from The Prince’s Countryside Fund has already made a big difference to many rural communities in Wales. These projects are really making a difference to people that are living in these rural areas providing a space for them to come together, socialise and overcome isolation.

“We are still welcoming applications from good publicans in Wales with pubs that can offer a vital service to people in their local area.” 

Find out more about Pub is The Hub at www.pubisthehub.org.uk to get the full details on the criteria and an expression of interest form by emailing [email protected]

Image: Ty’n Llan: The pub is providing a space for local people to get together