Pubs and restaurants in Lincolnshire encouraged to add accommodation to boost rural tourism

Chris Baron (left), resort director at Butlins in Skegness, and Coun Colin Davie, of Lincolnshire County Council.

The call comes as part of an initiative called the Greater Lincolnshire Pub Development Project, which is being run by the Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub and the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Chris Baron, resort director at Butlins in Skegness and the tourism lead on the LEP board, said: “This scheme supports our growing visitor economy by providing more high-quality accommodation, and it also helps breathe life into many of our pubs and helps them diversify.

“Over the last decade we have seen a rapid decline in the number of pubs – many of them struggling to survive in rural communities.

“We wanted to explore the possibility of encouraging pubs to widen their offer with good quality accommodation, helping sustain their role in the heart of the community and boosting tourism.”

Coun Colin Davie, executive councillor for economy and place at Lincolnshire County Council, added: “Partners from all areas across Greater Lincolnshire are working together to develop a proposal for a tourism sector deal. Hospitality businesses including pubs are vital in driving economic growth through job creation and attracting residents and visitors to an area to spend their money.

“Beyond this they play such an important role in our communities which can be so important to our mental health and community cohesion, especially in rural areas.”

In support of the project, two free workshops are to take place. The closest one to Skegness is to be held at the Advocate Arms, in Market Rasen, on Tuesday, March 25, from 2-4.30pm.

In addition, a free pub accommodation development guide containing practical advice on planning and the development process has been created.

For more information, to request a copy of the development guide, or to secure a place on the workshop email [email protected]

The guide is also available to download at www.businesslincolnshire.com, www.greaterlincolnshirelep.co.uk and www.visitlincolnshire.com