11 February 2010
£7,000 in ten days for Haiti thanks to a Cotswold pub


It took villagers just ten days to raise a whopping £7,000 for the Haiti’s Disaster Emergency fund, thanks to their generosity and the landlords at The Black Horse village pub, in Naunton near Stow on the Wold.

Landlady Jo Archer explains: “We wanted to do something for Haiti and discussed it with villagers and our customers. Having seen the dreadful news reports of Haiti following the earthquake, we all wanted to do our bit to help.”

So the pub put up a tent and threw a big party. Tickets cost £15 and nearly 100 people attended. An auction during the evening raised over £3,000 and more money came from a raffle. Since then the money has continued to flow in.

“It was fantastic – and wonderful to see everyone really getting involved,” added Jo.

The largest amount paid for an auction prize was for Jo’s partner and trained chef Peter Bate, who is in charge of the kitchens at The Black Horse. “He offered to visit a house and cook a meal for ten,” said Jo. “It raised the biggest amount of the night.”

James Arkell, of Donnington Brewery which owns The Black Horse, said: “Jo, Pete and all the villagers threw themselves into the fundraising with such energy, managing to raise a colossal sum in a very short time. It’s incredible what can be done when everyone believes in a cause and wants to work together.






About The Black Horse

The Black Horse Inn, opened in 1870, is now a thriving village pub and a regular meeting place for villagers and visitors alike.

About Donnington Brewery

In 1827, Thomas Arkell bought a 13th-century watermill in idyllic countryside near Stow on the Wold and began brewing on the site in 1865. His nephew Richard continued to build the business up and Claude Arkell joined the family business in 1952 after active service in the RAF during the Second World War and singlehandedly ran the brewery until 2007. Claude was keen to keep the business in the family and left the brewery to cousins Peter Arkell and his son James. James learned the art of brewing at Donnington Brewery in the 1970s.

Donnington Brewery stays as an independent business, brewing its cask ales, SBA (4.4% abv) and BB (3.6%), for all 15 of its pubs across the North Cotswolds.

The picturesque brewery, set in a Cotswold valley, is still powered by the original millwheel which drives the pumps and machinery. A hillside spring gives the beer its unique flavor.

For more information www.donningtonbrewery.com