Pub is The Hub: Social Value from the not-for-profit organisation confirmed pubs offer social value that supports community cohesion job security, wellbeing increased social interaction and resilient communities.
It also showed pubs help people overcome social isolation and replace the loss of services in rural and deprived areas.
This latest report, which was backed by The National Lottery Community Fund, measured to social value delivered by licensees and their pubs through Pub is The Hub Support, to help provide a range of services and activities in their local areas.
Social value has been calculated by measuring the added value an initiative brings to society and refers to the wider positive impact an activity, project or organisation has beyond financial or economic returns.
According to the evaluation, which focused on Pub is The Hub projects introduced between 2022 and 2024, analysed the impact of adding new services and activities alongside the role of the licensee in these efforts.
It found diversified pub-based initiatives would have a lasting impact on the overall improved local wellbeing for individuals and their families in addition to cutting loneliness, improving mental health and giving people greater independence.
Social value
It also found the social value created by pubs meets several of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Pub is The Hub chief executive John Longden said: “Publicans and their pubs have a vital social role in supporting local communities and helping people to overcome social isolation and alleviate feelings of loneliness.
“They have a significant social value that is beyond economic impact. They are crucial in helping to bring people together and helping with the provision of lost services and amenities.
“There needs to be wider recognition of the important role individual publicans and the vital role their pubs have in rural communities and deprived areas as social hubs.
“Pubs contribute to the general wellbeing of locals and help drive social cohesion and community resilience in local areas.”
Cornwall Rural Community Charity, which supports individuals, groups and community benefit (not-for-profit) businesses conducted the research.
Development and evaluation manager Gemma Finnegan added: “The report shows Pub is The Hub’s success lies in its ability to leverage strategic relationships and its deep knowledge of both the industry and local communities to quickly drive meaningful social change.”
Local community
Pub is The Hub supported the Halfway in Tal-y-Coed, Wales to open a village store and event space in a marquee.
Operator Rhiannon Metters said: “We are situated in an isolated rural community with the pub being the hub of the area.
“It is so important we support local people, ensuring they are not feeling isolated and alone.
“With the nearest supermarket being 20 minutes away, the village store here in this isolated rural area is such a support to people in the local community.
“The marquee has become a space where we run local courses such as CPR and craft workshops to help bring people together.”
Earlier this year (February), Longden said pubs can be the solution to many problems faced in rural areas.
This followed the release of the State of the art Review on Poverty at the beginning of 2025, which found more support was required for voluntary and community organisations to continue to reach into rural areas and maintain essential social infrastructure.
