Airbnb to transform local pubs by turning spare rooms into cosy retreats this winter
Key Takeaways
- Airbnb has partnered with CAMRA to offer three cherished pubs in England and Wales a complete makeover of their spare room, valued at over £10,000.
- The redecoration, paired with hosting support sessions from an Airbnb Community Team advisor, is a pilot project aiming to help the pubs boost their income by welcoming more guests and to attract visitor spending to other local businesses.
- The project rolls out at a time when almost 200 pubs have been demolished or converted for other uses in the past 12 months due to increasing financial pressures.
Key Takeaways
- Airbnb has partnered with CAMRA to offer three cherished pubs in England and Wales a complete makeover of their spare room, valued at over £10,000.
- The redecoration, paired with hosting support sessions from an Airbnb Community Team advisor, is a pilot project aiming to help the pubs boost their income by welcoming more guests and to attract visitor spending to other local businesses.
- The project rolls out at a time when almost 200 pubs have been demolished or converted for other uses in the past 12 months due to increasing financial pressures.
During the festive season, pubs truly emerge as the heartbeat of the community. They’re more than a spot for a pint, they’re a vibrant hub where locals and visitors can come together in celebration. Serving up traditional ales and hearty meals, pubs offer a warm and friendly space for festivities that truly show what British hospitality is about.
Yet as pubs face rising costs and consumer spending tightens, this cornerstone of British culture and the economy faces a challenge – almost 200 UK pubs have been demolished or converted for a different use in the past 12 months due to increasing financial pressures1. Airbnb has seen first hand how hosting has helped pub owners to diversify their income and strengthen their finances post-pandemic. Building on this existing support, Airbnb is proud to be joining forces with CAMRA this winter to unveil a new initiative that rekindles the essence of pubs as the original bed and breakfasts, connecting visitors with the core of the local community while protecting the pub’s main space.
Applications open today for three eligible pubs2 to receive a free makeover of their spare room, alongside hosting support sessions from an Airbnb Community Team advisor. The best way to live like a local is to stay in the local, and Airbnb and CAMRA are calling on local patrons to share the application form with their favourite pubs to help them open their doors to overnight guests.
Pubs across England and Wales are invited to apply via a form on the Airbnb website which is open from 00.01 on 27 November 2024. The three finalists will be selected by a panel of expert judges from the hospitality industry, including:
- Dame Caroline Dinenage, Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee
- Chris Webb, Chair of the Hospitality and Tourism All Party Parliamentary Group
- David Ellis, restaurant critic at The London Standard
- Gary Timmins, CAMRA Pub and Club Campaigns Director
- Amanda Cupples, General Manager of Airbnb Northern Europe
Together, they will consider the unique stories behind the pub and its owners and their impact on the local community, amongst other factors.
Airbnb will work with the three pubs on their makeovers to create a refreshed, cosy stay in keeping with each pub’s existing style and character. The pubs will also have the support of a hosting advisor from Airbnb’s expert Community Team, online resources on hosting best practices to help make their hosting business a success, and a copy of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2025. The makeovers will help these pubs welcome Airbnb guests to the local community, which in turn supports other local businesses as they explore and spend in the area.
Amanda Cupples, General Manager, UK & Northern Europe, Airbnb, commented: “Britain’s pubs and traditional room-and-board inns are an integral part of our identity when it comes to hospitality and festivity. With research showing that they are facing financial challenges, we want to breathe life into these beacons of the community by refurbishing spare rooms and helping them to diversify or boost their income from tourism. Together with CAMRA and our judges, we look forward to spotlighting some of the most loved pubs in England and Wales and encouraging visitors to discover some incredible new stays.”
Nick Boley, Campaigns and Communications Director, CAMRA said: “I am delighted CAMRA is offering support on this unique initiative. Pubs are an essential part of communities and heritage across the UK and we are committed to campaigning for pubs, pints and people. Nothing quite beats the warm atmosphere, friendly welcome and top-quality cask beer, real cider and perry they offer.
“We hope this will be a project that will help preserve our pubs and also help to protect and build communities, while playing an integral part in people’s social lives and wellbeing. I am very much looking forward to working with Airbnb and look forward to seeing the results, while encouraging more people to visit and stay in our beloved pubs.”
Maximum 1 entry per person. Applications must be submitted here by 11:59pm GMT on 31 December, 2024. To be eligible, you must: have an Airbnb account and be aged 18 or over, be a UK resident, own or represent a licensed and operating pub in England or Wales with a spare room suitable for overnight stays (including a dedicated sleeping space with a private door and access to a private or shared bathroom) that does not require any form of planning permission to redecorate, is not in a listed building, and is not otherwise deemed ineligible under the Official Rules.