John Longden instigated not-for-profit organisation Pub is The Hub in 2001, following the inspirational idea of His Majesty King III when he was HRH The Prince of Wales that rural publicans and pubs might be able to provide vital local services for their communities.

John has been supported by a variety of experienced senior volunteers from the property, drinks and pubs industries, all keen to help publicans diversify, thereby tackling issues of loss of services and social isolation and making a huge difference to deprived communities.

Over 600 Pub is The Hub projects have been completed nationwide and over 200 of these have been supported directly by their own Community Services Fund, which relies totally on donations.

John, as a surveyor, possesses both wide professional and trade experience in licensed property and has combined this knowledge to help generate collaboration between publicans, trade bodies, local authorities, Government and other partners to improve essential services in rural areas.

In 2014 he received an OBE for voluntary services to rural communities in the UK. In 2018, he was honoured by The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in their ‘Pride in the Profession’ campaign to celebrate their 150th anniversary year.

Since 2019, Pub is The Hub have also developed a separate initiative – ‘Join inn – Last Orders for Loneliness’ - to support publicans to connect locally and run simple activities like travelling theatre, arts and crafts events and community gardens to combat isolation for local customers and residents.