Further Information

The face of the English countryside is changing forever with thousands of years of combined pub history lost as large numbers of rural pubs close as profits from land development tempt business to close so many of these cherished village pubs. These closures are stripping the heart out of villages throughout the UK.

As people increasingly turn to the countryside for recreation there is growing demand for ‘the great British pub’ as the perfect pit stop after walking, cycling, riding and generally enjoying the countryside. Where would our tourist trade be without our pubs at the heart of our rural communities to provide a destination for some excellent refreshment and entertainment? Isolation is a key concern in rural communities and the pub is an essential life line for socialising with friends, neighbours and families.

The Plunkett Foundation helps rural communities set up and run a range of successful co-operatives including local pubs. For further details www.plunkett.co.uk  or www.pubs.co.uk

The action group produced their own externally validated business plan to demonstrate the viability of the pub; an Executive Summary of the business plan is available here. If you would like to see the full business case it is on file at the EDDC Offices and can be viewed there. The action group has also written a critique of the viability study submitted by other interested parties.