Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars showed its support for Pub is The Hub by pledging £30k to the not-for-profit organisation this week. The presentation, which took place at The Woolpack in Haslingden, Lancashire, was attended by the pub’s local MP and Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth, Jake Berry.
The donation underlines Heineken’s commitment to creating sustainable pubs and will fund consultancy and grants to licensees looking to diversify their businesses. The donation brings Heineken’s total contribution to this area of Pub is The Hub’s work to £80k in the last 19 months.
Lawson Mountstevens, Star Pubs & Bars Managing Director, said, “To thrive for the long-term, pubs have to adapt to meet the changing needs of the communities they serve. We are committed to ongoing investment in our own estate to ensure this happens, and are keen to support an organisation that facilitates this across the industry as a whole.”
Jake Berry MP, Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth, said, “Pubs have always had a vital role to play in bringing people together and increasingly they are also providing essential services for communities. It’s great to see strong backing for Pub is The Hub, which not only helps safeguard the future of pubs around the UK but improves the lives of local residents.”
John Longden, Chief Executive of Pub is The Hub, said, “Support like this is fantastic news for all the hard-working licensees that would like to add new services and activities to their pub businesses but just need some support, advice and modest investment to get them started.
“We are enormously grateful to Heineken for continuing to endorse Pub is The Hub, our advisors and our Community Services Fund in this way. They are making a real difference to people’s lives in communities up and down the country in a unique and imaginative way.”
The Woolpack was felt to be a fitting place for the celebration of the Pub is The Hub having evolved over the years to retain its position as a community hub. Over the last decade licensee Keith Murray has introduced home cooked food, barista quality coffee, local cask ales and Sky Sports, revamped the interior and garden, offered the pub as a meeting place to local groups ranging from Haslingden brass band to the fishing club and raised over £11k for good causes relevant to his customers.
Pictured left to right are: Jake Berry, Woolpack licensees Suzzanne Warwick and Keith Muray, John Longden of Pub is The Hub, Lorna Willoughby Star Pubs & Bars BDM for The Woolpack and Guy Mason, Heineken UK Head of Public Affairs.