Pubs recognised for community and charity support in competition sponsored by Matthew Clark
Fifteen pubs have been named as finalists in the Community Pub Hero Awards, organised by PubAid and the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group (APPBG) and sponsored by Matthew Clark.
The finalists all impressed the judges with their outstanding support for their local communities or charities. The competition, now in its fourth year, has beenexpanded to offer two categories for pubs – Community Support Hero or Charity Fundraising Hero and a new Community Regular Hero where pubs nominated a supportive customer. The awards attracted a total of 200 entries, including 70 from MPs who nominated pubs in their constituencies.
The finalists will now be judged and the overall winners announced in March at an event in London attended by shortlisted licensees and their MPs.
PubAid co-founder Des O’Flanagan said: “Our heartfelt congratulations go to our finalists, who have earned their place by going the extra mile and demonstrating, once again, that pubs are a force for good in their communities.
“I was impressed by the stories from so many pubs, who have raised astonishing sums for charities, or provided incredible support for local people, despite frequently facing uncertainty themselves. Choosing the 15 finalists was a real challenge and those who have reached the shortlist should be very proud of their achievement.”
John Steele, Trade Marketing Director, Matthew Clark added: “We were delighted to support this competition again and pleased to see an increase in the number of entries over last year. It is wonderful to hear about the great work done by licensees and their teams and we’re happy to be giving them well-deserved recognition.”
The Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP, Chairman of the APPBG, said: “To receive 70 nominations from MPs is an excellent result and shows how pubs are valued as hubs of charity and community support in constituencies across the country. All MPs with shortlisted pubs in their constituency will join me in congratulating them on reaching the finals in a very tough competition.”
Issued on behalf of PubAid
For further information: Ros Shiel at ros@shielporter.com / 07841 694137
NOTES TO EDITORS
The Community Pub Hero Awards are run by PubAid and the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group and sponsored by Matthew Clark. This year’s finalists are grouped in three categories:
Community Support Pub Hero
· The Admiral Rodney, Swadlincote, Derbyshire
· The Bellflower, Garstang, Preston, Lancashire
· The Bevy, Brighton
· The Jack & Jill, Coulsdon, Surrey
· The Jolly Coopers, Hampton, Middlesex
· The Two Tubs, Bury, Lancashire
Charity Fundraising Pub Hero
· The Beeswing, Northallerton, Yorkshire
· The Blue Ball, Worrall, Sheffield
· The Chequers, Swinford, Leicestershire
· The Flying Horse, Ashford, Kent
· The George & Dragon, Ilfracombe, Devon
· The Swan, Thornbury, Bristol
Community Regular Hero
· The Dog & Parrot, Nottingham
· The Jemmy Hirst, Goole, East Yorkshire
· The Royal Oak, Wolverhampton
PubAid is a working party created in 2009 to promote UK pubs as a force for good in their communities, sharing the message that they raise over £100m per year for charities and contribute £40 million to grassroots sport. PubAid runs the annual World’s Biggest Pub Quiz, which has raised £750,000 since its launch in 2016, the Community Pub Hero Awards and, launched in early 2022, the Grassroots Sports Champions, in association with Sky, to recognise pubs’ support for local sports.
The PubAid steering group is led by co-founder Des O’Flanagan and includes a number of well-known figures from the pub world, who lend their time and other resources to help spread the positive messages about pubs’ role at the heart of their communities.
Matthew Clark is a leading national drinks wholesaler with over 200 years’ experience supplying drink products, hospitality training, labour management and marketing support to over 16,000 On-Trade premises in the UK.
The All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group was set up in 1993 and has a membership of over 350 MPs and Peers. The Beer Group’s objectives are to broaden recognition of the enormous contribution of brewing and pubs to the UK economy from grain to glass – and to celebrate the unique role that beer and pubs play in our society.
Issued on behalf of PubAid
For further information: Ros Shiel at ros@shielporter.com / 07841 694137