MPs invited to join Community Pubs Month celebrations

To celebrate April being Community Pubs Month, the APPPG (All-Party Parliamentary Pubs Group) is jointly organising an event with the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) to visit the Antwerp Arms in Tottenham, according to group chair Toby Perkins.

The north London pub was facing closure before a group of locals stepped in to raise the funds to buy the pub. Perkins says that he will extend an invite to all his fellow MPs with the view of showcasing how important pubs can be for the local community.

“We are very conscious of the role that pubs play at the heart of many of our communities and, if a pub closes, it often has a detrimental effect on not only the local economy, but also on community cohesion,” he said.

An annual celebration

The annual month-long celebration of pubs in the community is being organised by CAMRA and the organisation is encouraging licensees to organise events, such as charity fun days and live music, to make pubs central to the communities they are in.

The chair of CAMRA’s Pub Campaigns Group, Paul Ainsworth, added that it was an apt opportunity to celebrate the recent change​ in planning laws surrounding pubs.

“That was a fantastic win for all pub campaigners. It is clear that the important role that pubs play in local communities is increasingly being recognised, and Community Pubs Month is a great opportunity to capitalise on this sentiment.”

‘A great pub makes a great community’

Both Punch and Star Pubs & Bars added that they would encourage licenses to get involved with community events.

Punch's CEO, Duncan Garrood, said that being at the centre of the community was important for more than just attracting extra customers. "We encourage all of our Publicans to work closely with local residents, not only to ensure the pub remains an inviting, thriving, hub for customers, but to reach out to those that may feel isolated from the community," he said.

“A great pub makes a great community. Pubs are a meeting place where people of all backgrounds and all ages can come together; often holding events that promote community participation, supporting local clubs and fundraising for good causes,” a spokesperson for Star added.