Arkell’s boosts community spirit

Arkell’s Brewery has appointed the UK’s first brewery community liaison manager in an effort to help collaboration between rural pubs and parish councils.

The Swindon-based brewery, which owns over 100 pubs in and around the Thames Valley, has handed the new role to Richard Turner, a recently retired director of the company with over 30 years experience in the brewing industry.

James Arkell, chairman of Arkell’s, explained his vision for the post: "With rural post offices and village stores closing, the role of the village pub is changing and there are opportunities for these pubs which weren’t there before.

"If new initiatives are supported by the local community, they could improve a pub’s viability and reintroduce local amenities which have been lost. Richard will work with the local community and pub landlord to identify what is and isn’t practical and make viable initiatives happen."

A number of Arkell’s pubs have already stepped in to replace local amenities, selling groceries and daily newspapers or offering a postal service.

In addition to liaising with communities about this type of initiative, Turner’s post will also see him work with pub landlords to secure rural rate relief and reduce utility costs.

However Turner also called for locals to come forward with their own suggestions about how the brewery and villages can best support each other. As he took on his new post, Turner remarked: "Creative, lateral thinking is needed, and that’s where we hope local communities will come forward."

Gabriel Savage, 15.03.2011