PUB bosses have spoken of their day with royalty when the then Prince Charles and Camilla dropped in.

King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla visited the Purleigh Bell pub in 2014.

They attended an event at the pub for a not-for-profit Pub is the Hub meeting and even had a pint whilst there. 

Many local businesses were at the meeting including the Mighty Oak brewery, Crouch Vale Brewery, Maldon Salt, Maldon Oysters and Purleigh’s New Hall Vineyard.

The Purleigh Bell is a traditional community pub.

Its function room hosts yoga, Pilates and chair-based exercise classes and the room is also used by the cricket club, wildfowlers and an art society.

The pub also hosts regular art exhibitions with work from local artists.

King Charles and Camilla visited the Purleigh Bell because Charles is a patron of Pub is the Hub.

Pub is the Hub recognised the Purleigh Bell for “its important role at the heart of local community services”.

It is also the home for a book club library, a dressmaking group and a Christmas market.

Pub landlady Kirsten Webb was there on the day of the royal visit.

She expressed her sadness on the news of the death of the Queen but says she is looking forward to the future.

Kirsten said: “We send our condolences to the Royal Family for the Queen.

“The royal visit was a magical day - they are a force for good and they support local and rural businesses.

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“It’s nice that they support communities.

“They came as he is a patron of Pub is the Hub, as where the world is changing it supports the pubs.

“We had a cinema here which they helped us install.

“It was a day that will always stay with the Purleigh Bell.

“In the room that Charles helped to establish we hold events which shows the work that’s done has continued.

“We look forward to the future.”

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