Two Punch Partners in Cornwall have brought essential local services back to their communities with the addition of village shops to their pubs. With the support of Pub is the Hub, the Miner’s Arms in Mithian near St Agnes and the Lion and Lamb in Ashton have both opened self-contained shops inside their village pubs.
Mithian’s longest resident, Betty Miners (nearly 88 years old), officially opened the shop at the 16th Century Miner’s Arms last week after it recently lost its post office and years before that lost the village shop.
Realising that the community would benefit hugely from a local shop, especially the older residents who find it difficult to travel out of the village, Partner Anouska House (pictured above) approached Pub is The Hub for help and advice. Anouska was able to use a £2,500 grant from the organisation’s Community Services Fund to convert the pub’s storeroom into a self-contained shop.
The shop now serves freshly baked bread from her partner Andy Andreou, dairy produce from Rodders, eggs, honey, jams, cider, vegetables and much more from local producers, The shop also serves tea, coffee and cakes before midday and displays handmade crafts and art from a number of local artists.
The Lion and Lamb in Ashton near Helston (above), meanwhile, have welcomed local MP Andrew George to officially open their shop.
Partners Graham and Elaine Martin have been running the Lion and Lamb for ten years and had seen the demise of the local post office and shop five years previously. They were also able to use a grant from Pub is the Hub to support the cost of a self-contained shop in a Portakabin in the pub car park.
The shop serves newspapers, local produce and other essential and convenience items including vegetables supplied by local farmers, bacon, ham and sausages and greetings cards from local artists.
Partner Elaine said: “We have also followed the changing nature of the leisure market and realised that long-term business sustainability has to come from diversification. We’re hoping that both the shop and pub feed off each other to maintain footfall.”
Reg Clarke, regional advisor for Pub is The Hub added: “Anouska at the Miner’s Arms and Graham and Elaine at the Lion and Lamb have both done a tremendous job. In common with many other fantastic licensees they have placed themselves at the heart of their community. We were delighted to give them a grant to open the shop and will continue to offer them support and advice where we can.”
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