THE future of Porlock’s information and craft centre has been secured after a deal was agreed with the village’s Miles Tea and Coffee company.

Porlock Vale Community Interest Company (PVCIC), which manages the centre, is to move its business to premises owned by Miles in The Vale Yard, in the village High Street.

Centre manager Deborah Stanyon said Porlock Vale CIC and Miles Tea and Coffee had agreed to ‘collaborate and join forces to create something very special for Porlock’.

Ms Stanyon said the collaboration would create a thriving business and community resource for residents and visitors alike.

Porlock Visitor Centre manager Deborah Stanyon.
Porlock Visitor Centre manager Deborah Stanyon. ( )

She said the visitor centre would resurrect its community book stall and develop any new ideas which delivered on their joint aims.

Ms Stanyon said: “The information centre will not be reducing or changing any of their day to day working practices.

“The centre will be in a more central location within Porlock High Street.”

Ms Stanyon said the CIC was at a point where the information centre was financially unsustainable in the long-term, despite efforts to generate income with new ideas and extra events.

It would have ceased to exist in 18 months without some creative thinking, and Ms Stanyon said the trustees ‘simply could not allow that to happen’.

She said: “The loss of the services which they offer to the community and businesses, as well as the visitors, would be incalculable.”

Instead, Miles and Porlock Vale CIC were now planning a phased development of the premises at The Vale Yard and aimed to open a community café and a Miles Tea and Coffee interactive museum.

Ms Stanyon said: “This will provide Porlock, with a much-needed tourist destination experience and fully utilise the premises at The Vale Yard to provide a focal point for people to visit in the village.

“The opportunities to promote this partnership are extensive.

“The community café will offer services which are not currently offered elsewhere in the village and will be open at times to ensure that there is always a café open in Porlock seven days a week.

“Information centres across the UK have been under threat, especially in recent years.

“Porlock is a self-funded, service-led industry and has relied on a top up of grants to assist in the day to day running of the centre.

“These grants cease in 2025.

“This is a unique opportunity to create a long-term legacy for Miles Tea and Coffee and Porlock Vale CIC.

“The core values of both companies are to keep the Porlock Vale community at the heart of their businesses and to seek to create a visionary collaboration for the social and economic well-being of Porlock Vale and its residents.

“The joint collaboration will ensure Porlock Vale CIC has a sustainable business model for the future, which is not reliant on seeking grant funding.

“Miles will see their community vision delivered to provide a Miles Tea experience and the joint venture will provide extensive marketing and public relations opportunities for both companies and Porlock.”