Save the village pub

Many inns in rural regions are empty. High administrative hurdles, complex regulations and a difficult economic environment are overtaxing traditional lease models. More than gastronomy is dying with them: the last neutral place for democracy, community and cohesion. If the pub goes, the village becomes isolated.

One solution: "Save the village pub"

gutundgut is fighting against the extinction of village pubs in rural regions. Together with the Competence Center for Social Innovation at the University of St.Gallen and GastroSuisse, we are therefore developing a model called "Save the village pub". With our project, we want to prevent the extinction of pubs in rural regions that would close without intervention because there is no economic solution and the social anchor point would otherwise disappear.

The approach: Relief through structure

Gastronomy as a public service. Centralized services relieve the burden on landlords in the areas of purchasing, accounting and technology. Retired people join in as co-hosts. A social franchise combines local identity with national professionalism.

We don't start with ready-made recipes. In the design workshop, we work with municipalities, hosts and experts to develop a financing concept and explore possible directions: inter-municipal cooperation, public-private partnerships, regional networks.

The vision: a network for Switzerland

The project does not end with the individual village. Our vision is to build a nationwide network of Swiss catering businesses. As part of this network, the individual businesses will benefit from economies of scale in purchasing, joint marketing and a continuous exchange of experience.

Project phases 2026-2029

• May 2026 - Innovation workshop, Mobiliar Forum Bern (May 18-20): Municipalities, restaurateurs, experts and scientists develop a financing concept for the three-year pilot phase: legal framework, financing, operating model.

• Summer 2026 - Start of pilot project: Based on the workshop results, 3-5 municipalities start the three-year pilot operation.

• 2027-2028 - Pilot operation: Pilot operation with scientific support from gutundgut, Competence Center for Social Innovation at the University of St. Gallen and GastroSuisse: Impact measurement, learning loops, model optimization. What works is documented and made transferable.

• 2029 - Scaling blueprint and rollout: The findings of the pilot are incorporated into a tried-and-tested blueprint. The model will be made available to other municipalities throughout Switzerland.

Become a pilot municipality?

We are already working with the first partner municipalities that are paving the way for the new model. Nevertheless, we are open to other committed players: Is there an empty pub in your municipality? Is a business struggling to find a successor or is it at risk of going out of business?

Get in touch. We will check together whether participation in the pilot project is an option or how we can support you.

Expressions of interest and questions to:

⭢ Anne van der Pot, Mail, +41 44 500 02 62

Supporting a project?

We are looking for foundations, funding programs and partners to make this process possible.

Why support? Maintaining social infrastructure is cheaper than bearing social follow-up costs. Isolation, dwindling democratic participation and emigration are measurable and growing. This project takes a preventative approach - with scientific support, real pilot communities and an approach that is geared towards sustainability and social cohesion.

What are we using the funds for? The funding enables the entire project development: conception and implementation of the design workshop, development and support of the pilot communities over three years as well as the scientific evaluation by the University of St. Gallen.

What your support will achieve A tried-and-tested, transferable model for social infrastructure in rural areas - with a multiplier effect for other municipalities throughout Switzerland.

Contact For an initial, non-binding discussion, please contact us directly:

⭢ Rafael Enzler, Mail, +41 44 260 80 51