The Bevendean, located in Moulsecoombe, Brighton and Hove, claims to be the UK’s only community-owned pub on a housing estate.
The site has been a pillar of the surrounding community for many years and has delivered various initiatives to help aid locals in the area including it’s meals on wheels initiative started during Covid.
Manager Tanya King and her partner Kevin Williams, a volunteer at the pub, have decided to keep the venue open completely independently throughout the festive period, at the request of customers in need of Christmas meals.
Festive Cheer
King said the pub has always been “for the community”.
She added: “We are completely community funded and community centred.
“We want to give back to the local area and myself and my partner are keeping the place open on Christmas, as long as we have people in, I’ve said to customers that I absolutely don’t mind.”
The Bevy is set to host a series of events throughout December, including a seniors' Christmas dinner, which will take place on 20 December, costing £8.
On Christmas Day, King and Williams will also serve Christmas dinners for £10, which also includes a drink.
Speaking on the financial rewards of this initiative, she stated: “Technically, if you look at it, it’s about a fiver for their dinner,”
”Because the drink is roughly £5 here, so it adds up to be really affordable."
She stressed bookings were essential for the Christmas Day dinner as the scheme continued to be popular.
King also explained the Bevy aimed to welcome all forms of community groups through it’s doors.
The pub hosts a seniors' club every Friday lunchtime, offering a hot meal, pudding, bingo and a raffle for £5.
Sense of connection
King said the club is about ensuring “the older of the community here know they still have a sense of connection to us”, adding she believed the site provided “a safe space” for the elderly.
Monthly disability discos are also on offer at the pub, which King explained were specifically designed “for people with learning needs, learning difficulties, and disabilities such as autism”.
She emphasised the inclusive atmosphere of the events, adding “everyone just comes together”.
The operator continued: “Nobody’s ever made to feel they’re different, everyone is treated the same and we think that’s really important.”
The Bevy also runs family fun events every Thursday, with entertainers and craft days on offer, including free hot food for families.
King stressed she thought offering free food was extremely important, in light of the cost of living crisis.
“Everyone is clearly struggling” in the current climate, she said.
The pub was previously described as significantly “helping local people in challenging times” with “a genuine community spirit” and was also previously visited virtually by Queen Camilla when she was the Duchess of Cornwall.
