Rallying behind St George
What's red, white and busy all over? The answer - with a bit
of creativity and planning - could be your pub on 23 April
The push to make St George's Day a truly national celebration is one of the MA's key campaigns of the year because of the natural symmetry it has with pubs.
Customers are quite used to raising a pint of the Black Stuff to St Patrick in March, but there is still more work to be done to give our own patron saint the same honour. Building on the foundations created by our efforts last year, we're committed to making this year's celebrations an even better success.
While 23 April might seem like a distant date, planning is key and, over the next 11 weeks, our aim is to deliver all you need to know to get your customers fired up and in the mood to celebrate the feast day of St George in another national treasure - the British pub.
For the second year, we have teamed up with pageant master Bruno Peek, the man behind 2007's events around St George, as well as countless other high-profile celebrations including the Queen's golden jubilee. Once again, Wells & Young's Bombardier is backing our campaign, along with the British Pub & Beer Association (BBPA).
How to get involved
St George's Day is a fantastic opportunity for the whole trade to generate some excitement on 23 April. Visit our website www.morningadvertiser.co.uk and download a copy of the Enjoy England Celebrate St George brochure for tips on how to make the most of the day.
How one pub makes the most of St George's Day
Paul Egerton, landlord of Charles Wells pub the Jolly Sailor, in St Albans, marks St George's Day at his pub with a day out for his regulars.
"I try to do something a bit different on St George's Day, so I organise a golf day every year.
"Last year there were about 30 people who came to play golf, and then we went back to the pub for a buffet and a few pints of Wells Bombardier. Plenty more people joined us in the evening so it was very busy."
Using the point-of-sale kits from Wells Bombardier, the pub was decorated red and white with lots of bunting to get people in the English spirit.
"By the time we returned from playing golf, everyone was in a really good mood, which helped get the party atmosphere going," adds Egerton. "Wells & Young's brewery had donated a barrel of the 'Drink of England' and we had some of their Bombardier rugby shirts, so we were able to give prizes of free pints and the shirts for the winners of the golf.
"We also had special offers on drinks such as jugs of Bombardier for a discounted price.
"We should all celebrate St George's Day, as, after all, it is England's national day. There was a real increase in sales on the day because people are there to celebrate, so naturally buy more. I would definitely recommend organising a St George's Day event, but the key is to plan ahead."
Help support our national Paralympic team
This year's campaign features a new element to help build on the strong links pubs have with their locals through their on-going work
for charity.
The British Beer & Pub Association wants to encourage licensees across the country to use St George's Day as an opportunity to build trade as well as to raise some funds for a deserving national cause.
With this year's Olympics in Beijing fast approaching, the BBPA is urging pubs to help towards the cost of sending our national Paralympics team to the games.
It costs ParalympicsGB £7,000 to take each athlete to the games and the aim is to send more than 200 athletes, which would work out at a total of £1,400,000.
If every pub in Britain were to raise just £10 that would generate £600,000. If the total is exceeded then the Paralympics plan to support the sporting careers of more homegrown talent that could eventually represent the British team when the Olympics come to London in 2012.
The Paralympics has put together a special fund-raising pack to help pubs get behind its bid to send our team to the games - a campaign it has called "The Road to Bejing".
l To get your free copy, contact Jane Jones at ParalympicsGB on 0207 211 5222 or email her at jane.jones@paralympics.org.uk.
One athlete's story of success
Great Britain wheelchair rugby player Andy Barrow was part of the team that finished an agonising fourth at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, going down 43-39 to the 2000 Paralympic Games champions USA
in the bronze medal match after a tight semi-final loss.
More recently the 28-year-old led Great Britain to victory at the 2007 European Championships in Finland, securing the team's place in Beijing.
Andy, who has been playing wheelchair rugby for 10 years after breaking his neck playing rugby union in 1997, said: "Going to my second Paralympic Games would be immensely exciting.
"Any time you compete for your country is special. To do so on the largest stage is an honour that very few people ever experience and that no one can ever take from you."
