Breage pub transforms land into allotments
1:00pm Monday 29th October 2012 in News
Breage pub transforms land into allotments
A community minded pub at Breage has transformed redundant land into allotments in return for a percentage of the vegetables grown.
The Queens Arms landlord Chris Brazier charges locals a peppercorn rent of £1 to work on the allotments on a half-acre site adjacent to the pub. This is done on the understanding that he is provided with organically grown fruit and vegetables all year round, which is then served in the pub.
Produce includes potatoes, beans, chard and spinach, with even the flower arrangements for the tables coming care of the allotments.
Sally Herriett, a regular at the pub, was one of the first people involved with the allotments. She regularly supplies the pub kitchen with fresh produce.
She said: “If you’ve got something that’s ripening you just say to Chris do you want so and so, and he incorporates it into the menu. There’s always more than enough.” Chris Brazier believed the arrangement helped ensure the pub remained the hub of village life.
He said: “More businesses like mine could, and should, use their land for similar schemes. It not only ensures our menu remains fresh and seasonal, it also galvanises the sense of community here in Breage, and helps keep the Queens Arms at the heart of the village.” The Queens Arms is currently on the market with Miller Commercial at a leasehold price of £125,000.
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