The local pub plays a crucial role in community life – both as a source of enterprise and as a vehicle for community action – and I am dismayed at the current rate of closure nationally and at home. This is an industry that is of huge importance to our constituency, its communities, and indeed to the national economy. With five breweries and 174 pubs, this is a significant economic and social driver that we need to do more to support.
We have worked incredibly hard in Penrith and the Border to show how an imaginative and flexible approach can ensure that our pubs remain open: in Hesket Newmarket we have the first community-owned pub in Britain, a model that was followed in Crosby Ravensworth with the community buy-out of the Butcher’s Arms (the bar of which the Prime Minister himself opened). I have also been involved in helping the George and Dragon in Garrigill, the Chamley Arms in Warcop, and the Strickland Arms in Great Strickland.
If anyone is concerned about the future of their village pub, or would like help and support re-opening their pub, please do get in touch.
Rory has praised the pub trade on a recent visit to the newly opened ‘Taggy Man’. Mr Stewart was toured around the pub by husband and wife team, Kevin and Jennifer Oates, who chatted to him about the its renovation and their love for Kirkby Stephen and the Eden Valley. The three also discussed the pub’s […]
Rory has visited The Butchers Arms in Crosby Ravensworth, to meet tenants Jon and Katie Metcalfe, who took over last year. The community-owned pub was recently nominated in the Pub category of the Countryside Alliance awards, otherwise known as “The Rural Oscars”. The awards are the most prestigious rural business awards in the UK and give a voice […]
Penrith and The Border MP Rory Stewart has commended local pub chef Stephen Tierney, from The Cross Keys Inn, Penrith, as part of the Parliamentary Pub Chef of the Year award. Although Stephen was not selected as one of the national finalists, he was selected by the local MP as a superb chef offering great food in the local […]
Rory Stewart MP is urging small food and drink businesses in Penrith and The Border to apply for the chance to win a share of £50,000 funding in the first competition aimed at pushing the boundaries in food business innovation to kick-start the next generation of food production. The scheme has been launched by Defra, through […]
Rory Stewart MP has nominated Head Chef, Steven Pott from the Stoneybeck Inn, Penrith for a national award. Rory invited people on Facebook and Twitter to vote for their favourite pub chef in Penrith and The Border, and after receiving the most votes, Steven will now be put forward for the Parliamentary Pub Chef of […]
Rory Stewart MP is inviting constituents to vote for their favourite local chefs for the Parliamentary Pub Chef of the Year award. The British Beer & Pub Association and the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group have launched the Parliamentary Pub Chef of the Year award in partnership with Nestlé Professional. The prestigious new award seeks […]
At an open meeting in Castle Carrock this weekend, Rory rallied together residents, encouraging them to demonstrate against the recent decision to demolish an iconic 18th century building – The Weary – which forms an integral part of the village’s charm and character. Councillors last week approved the decision to demolish The Weary – which […]
In mid-March, Rory launched the first of what he hopes will be a new model for Cumbrian lunch clubs for the elderly. The Lyvennet Lunch Club’s luncheon meeting at the Crosby Ravensworth community pub, the Butcher’s Arms, was conceived by councillor Joan Raine, in order to provide a social group for the elderly, while bringing […]
Rory Stewart is renewing efforts to support rural pubs in Penrith and the Border by supporting the British Beer and Pub Association’s calls to the Chancellor George Osborne to scrap the beer duty escalator as a sign of support for country publicans. The move follows research by Oxford Economics on the brewing and pub sector, […]
The last time David Cameron came to Penrith and the Border, it was 48 hours before the 2010 election. Just before eleven o’clock, I was outside the Border Cod in Longtown. And then, in an instant, young special advisers were spilling from hire cars; plain-clothes policeman materialised behind bus-stops, ear-pieces crackling; and a giant purple […]