Prince Charles visits first ever Pub is the Hub project

The first ever pub to benefit from the Pub is the Hub initiative received a boost in trade yesterday thanks to a royal visit.

Prince Charles, patron of Pub is the Hub, and the Duchess of Cornwall dropped in to the White Hart Inn, in Blythburgh, Suffolk, where the village shop is run on the same site as the pub.

The shop acts as a grocers, newsagent, laundrette and even a collection point for doctors' prescriptions.

Michael Davis, tenant at the Adnams-owned pub, said: "It was a privilege to have royal visitors. I told him (Charles) he could come every week because the amount of people that turned out was really good for business."

In glorious weather, the royal couple spent time looking around the shop and meeting staff, while a local Samaritans group also got to meet them.

John Longden, co-ordinator of Pub is the Hub, said: "It's wonderful for Michael and the local community to have the support and interest of the Prince of Wales at our first ever project."

Set up in 2001, Pub is the Hub aims to help pubs diversify to incorporate vital community services such as the Post Office and village shops.

Earlier in the day Charles and Camilla visited Adnams Brewery in nearby Southwold, where they sampled a drop of the company's new carbon neutral beer East Green.