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6th January 2020

PubAid names Keith Bott as its first President

PubAid, the organisation dedicated to promoting pubs as a force for good, has appointed Keith Bott MBE as its first ever President. The founder of Titanic Brewery and former chairman of the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) takes up the position in January 2020, and will serve for two years.

Bott’s appointment comes as PubAid enters its second decade. Founded in 2009 by a group of senior pub industry figures, it has helped to shape more positive perceptions of the great British pub, through research showing that pubs raise more than £100 million every year for hundreds of charities and local causes. Last year, a PubAid-commissioned survey revealed that pubs also provide an estimated £40m per year in financial and in-kind support to grassroots sports.

PubAid co-founder Des O’Flanagan said: “We’re delighted that Keith has agreed to become our first President and confident that his highly respected status both within and outside the pub industry will be a tremendous boost to the work of PubAid.

“Keith’s appointment marks a new chapter for PubAid, as we look to expand our communications around pubs’ support for charities and their local communities to a wider audience.

“In the decade since we founded PubAid, pubs have raised an estimated £1 billion for charities and causes; we think that’s a figure that everyone in the industry should be proud of, and everyone outside it should know about!”

Bott said: “I was honoured to be asked to become President of PubAid, an organisation I’ve admired since its foundation.  Throughout my years in the industry, pubs have been at the heart of their communities and have had community at their heart, including our 13 Titanic pubs.

“I’m looking forward to helping the PubAid team continue to spread the word about the pivotal role pubs play in their communities, and ensuring that their contribution to society’s wellbeing is always recognised by policymakers.”

-ends-

NOTES TO EDITORS

PubAid is a working party created in 2009 to highlight the work done by UK pubs for charity, sharing the message that UK pubs raise over £100m per year and contribute £40 million to grassroots sport.

The PubAid working party 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.

World’s Biggest Pub Quiz: PubAid runs the World’s Biggest Pub Quiz, which will run from 8-12 March 2020, supporting PubAid’s charity partner Action Against Hunger as well as hundreds of other charities selected by pubs. In 2019, around 2,200 pubs took part and the quiz has raised a total of £750,000 since its launch in 2016.

 

Issued on behalf of: PubAid

By: ShielPorter Communications

Further information: Ros Shiel

ros@shielporter.com / 07841 694137