Popular village pubs in Northumberland have come up with the idea of raising cheer this winter by ensuring they offer a warm haven to their local communities this winter, including home comforts ranging from books to soup.
In an initiative which could well catch on, the three pubs in Northumberland - The Olde Ship, The Percy Arms and The Anglers Arms - as well as the The Derwent Arms in County Durham, are out to ensure that hot drinks, company and warmth will be available seven days a week at their venues. The warm welcome is in response to fears that householders, not to mention businesses, will be cutting back on heating to save cash in coming months as the cost of living and soaring fuel prices bite.
With the elderly in mind as being particularly vulnerable, they are stocking up on firewood for their open fires in preparation for the cold weather and the initiative is also set to benefit lonely people as well as the wider community. The managers of The Olde Ship at Seahouses; The Percy Arms, at Chatton; The Anglers Arms at Longframlington and The Derwent Arms in Edmundbyers, which are all owned by the Inn Hospitality Group, will ensure that the fires are kept burning throughout the winter, from 9am right up to to closing time.
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Each pub has also introduced a book-sharing library and will be offering free hot drinks to anyone who donates a book to it. Visitors will be welcome to stay as long as they need or would like, with no obligation to buy food or drink.
In addition, The Anglers Arms, north of Morpeth, will be giving free soup to those aged 60 and over between the hours of 12noon and 4pm. And Thermos flasks and hot water bottles can be filled up free of charge upon request.
A spokeswoman said the aim of the initiative is twofold: to provide a warm sanctuary for anyone who needs it and to reduce the risk of loneliness, particularly among the elderly. Oliver Bennet, co-founder, with Matt Daniel, of Inn Hospitality Group, said that “although winter always brings challenges, this one may well be the most severe yet – not necessarily in terms of snow and ice, but in terms of poverty and helplessness".
He added “Everyone’s likely to feel the pinch financially and a lot of people are worried. They don’t know if or how they’ll manage and, if they live on their own, the temptation will be to lock their doors and hunker down – and we want to let them know they don’t have to. That we can, and want to, help.”
The pubs have a history of providing sanctuary for people, with The Anglers Arms, which is around 300 years old, originally being a coaching inn; The Percy Arms and The Derwent Arms serving rural communities and The Olde Ship dating back in parts to the 17th century. Oliver added: “They are warm and anyone who wants to simply come in and sit by the fire with a book is more than welcome.
“And, if they bring in their flask or hot water bottle, we’ll fill it up for them free of charge so they can take it home with them.”
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