PubAid Community Hero Awards winners announced

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

- Last updated on GMT

Raise a glass: Community care awarded
Raise a glass: Community care awarded

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Three pubs have bagged top spots in the PubAid Community Pub Hero Awards.

The competition is sponsored by Matthew Clark and organised by PubAid in partnership with the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group. 

An awards presentation in the House of Commons yesterday (Tuesday 28 March) saw the winners crowned.  

The Bellflower, Garstang, Lancashire took home the Community Support Pub Hero title, and the Beeswing Inn, Northallerton, Yorkshire won the Charity Fundraising Pub Hero award. 

The Community Regular Hero title went to Glyn Hassell at the Dog & Parrot, Nottingham. 

The winners were selected from a list of 15 finalists who impressed judges with their support for their local communities and charity. 

Awarding talent

Presenting trophies to the winners, Matthew Clark trade marketing director John Steele said: "We are delighted to recognise the incredible community and charity support provided by our winners, by naming them as our overall Community Pub Heroes. Congratulations to all three pubs for this well-deserved recognition." 

PubAid co-founder Des O'Flanagan added: "We received 200 entries for our awards, so reaching the final 15 was an achievement in itself and going on to take one of the top awards is a triumph!  

“We're delighted with the recognition the awards give to all our finalists and winners, who are truly a force for good in their communities." 

Each winning pub received a trophy and both Matthew Clark and PubAid will be donating £250 each to a charity chosen by the pub. 

Heather Porter-Brandwood, licensee of the Bellflower, said it was “unbelievable” to win the award. 

Helping guests

She said: “I’ve always believed that if you're in a position, as we are, where you can help people, why wouldn't you help? That's why we've supported such a lot of local charities and good causes over the years and will continue to do so." 

Beth Robinson, licensee of the Beeswing Inn, said: "Today has been a brilliant day, as on our way to this presentation we learned that building is going to start on a new hospice suite at Northallerton Friarage Hospital, which we are funding.  

“This has been our goal ever since my dad passed away at the Friarage four years ago and it's going to make such a difference, enabling families to stay with their loved ones at the end."  

Kathryn Boam, licensee of the Dog & Parrot, said Hassell had arranged charity events, managed social media and raised the pub’s profile. 

She continued: "With his help, we've raised £45,000 for charity, which is huge for a small pub like ours. We've just completed our third annual ‘March for March' 10-mile walk in aid of Combat Stress, meaning we've now raised £7,000 for this charity, which supports veterans' mental health."  

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