Countryfile pub hub

 

One of this year’s Pub is The Hub projects, the Bird in Bush at Elsdon, Northumberland, will feature in the Christmas episode of Countryfile tonight (Sunday).

The entire team of presenters and crew spent the day based at the pub, on the edge of the Northumberland National Park, and filmed a number of features about the area, including a piece about Katie and Steven’s plans for the pub and their adjacent micro-brewery, The First and Last Brewery.

Pub is the Hub chief executive, John Longden, was on hand at the end to join in some carol singing to close the show.

In addition to a Community Services Fund grant that Pub is The Hub gave to the pub, for a mini-library and digital hub in the bar, Steven and Katie Bland were also chosen, earlier this year, as recipients of a £25k grant through the Prince’s Countryside Fund and the People’s Postcode Lottery to support a new kitchen and bunkhouse at the pub.

Longden said: “This has been a wonderful chance to showcase the amazing amount of effort and investment that Katie and Stephen have put into this pub. Their whole business revolves around their community and they are an inspiration as well as an important focal point for the area.”