However, we also want to show the positive news going on within the industry and here is where we will be highlighting good news by regularly updating this story.
APRIL
Ardent raises over £77k for charity
Ardent Pub Group has raised £77,411 for charitable causes across the UK during the 2025 to 2026 financial year.
The fundraising was driven by a combination of brand partnerships, in pub fundraising and guest led initiatives across its three London sites, The Cadogan Arms, The George and The Hound.
The largest contribution came through its ongoing partnership with ethical water brand Belu, generating £54,171 to support clean water projects.
A further £13,970 was raised for Shout, the 24 hour mental health text support service, through quiz nights, awareness campaigns and events across the group’s pubs.
Community remained central to the group’s strategy. The Kensington and Chelsea Foundation received £4,363 through the Give Where You Live initiative, while individual venues supported local causes including grassroots sport and mental health services.
The Hound also contributed to the establishment of Polytechnic FC’s first women’s team.
Additional fundraising supported Hospitality Action, schools and local organisations, reflecting a broad approach to community engagement.
Stonegate reaches £50k milestone for CALM
Stonegate has raised £50,000 for Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) just 12 weeks into its two year charity partnership.
The figure marks a strong early milestone driven by fundraising activity across its pubs, bars and venues. The total is equivalent to supporting more than 4,000 calls to CALM’s suicide prevention helpline.
The partnership, launched in January, aims to bring mental health awareness and suicide prevention into social spaces across the UK.
Fundraising efforts have included sponsored walks, endurance challenges, in venue initiatives and large scale community events, alongside the introduction of a £3 optional donation on guest bills across sites.
Chief executive David McDowall said: “The level of fundraising and engagement we’ve seen in such a short space of time has been incredible, but it’s the conversations happening alongside that which really matter.”
He added that the partnership highlights the role pubs can play not only as social spaces but as environments where people can support one another.
CALM chief executive Simon Gunning said the early momentum will help fund vital services and support ongoing efforts to change the conversation around suicide prevention.
Greene King doubles respite breaks for unpaid carers
Greene King has doubled the number of free respite breaks provided to unpaid carers, delivering 339 stays across its hotels in 2025 through its partnership with Carefree.
The figure is an increase on 2024 and reflects growing demand for the initiative.
The scheme enables unpaid carers to access short breaks using unused hotel room capacity, giving them time away from caring responsibilities and helping to support wellbeing. Carers can also travel with a companion, offering greater flexibility and support.
Since launching the partnership in 2023, Greene King has provided a total of 659 respite breaks. Carefree data shows more than half of carers surveyed had not taken a break in over three years, while 87% said they would not have been able to do so without the charity’s support.
Managing director for Greene King Venture Hotels, Vincent Madden, said: “Unpaid carers play a vital role in our communities supporting others, often with little opportunity to step away from their responsibilities.”
He added the partnership allows the business to offer carers “a well deserved break” to rest and recharge.
Be At One Leeds bars raise £1,712 for CALM
Be At One Leeds Boar Lane and Greek Street have raised £1,712 for Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) following a 12 hour charity event held over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
The two venues hosted a ‘rave a thon’ across both sites, bringing together guests, DJs and local businesses to support suicide prevention efforts.
The fundraiser began at the Boar Lane site before continuing at Greek Street, with the full day of activity combining music, a charity raffle and strong customer participation.
Prizes included Leeds Pride tickets, shopping vouchers and food festival passes, helping to drive donations throughout the event.
Organiser and assistant general manager Calin Dormand said the initiative brought together the city’s strong social culture with a cause that resonates across the team. Regional manager Ada McCafferty added that the response from the local community was key to reaching the final total.
The funds raised will support CALM’s helpline and digital services, with the charity noting the contribution could help facilitate around 140 calls to its suicide prevention service.
Proper Pubs donates 21,619 Easter eggs to communities across the UK
Proper Pubs has donated 21,619 Easter eggs to local communities and charities across the UK, surpassing last year’s total of 20,500.
The community wet led division of Admiral Taverns, which operates more than 200 pubs, encouraged customers and residents to contribute throughout March and early April, with donations distributed to causes including women’s shelters, children’s wards and nursing homes.
Each pub selected local initiatives to support - the Ashmore Inn in Wolverhampton, Queens in Bredbury, Horse Shoe Bar in Motherwell and Greenlands in Redditch collectively gathered 2,883 eggs for foodbanks, hospitals and community groups.
Managing director Nathan Wall said the initiative highlights the role pubs play as social hubs that bring people together and support their local areas. He added that the campaign reflects the generosity of operators and customers working together to deliver positive impact.
Craft Union raises £2,400 for CALM
Craft Union’s north west team has raised £2,400 for suicide prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) through a community led fundraising day centred around The Beehive pub in Droylsden.
The initiative brought together regional managers, operational directors and local residents to support mental health awareness and fundraising efforts.
The main fundraiser saw the team hand wash almost 40 cars, with customers donating in return for the service.
Alongside this, The Beehive hosted a family charity day with a raffle, entertainment and activities for local residents, helping to drive the final total.
Regional manager Shelley Matier said the event highlighted the strength of the local community and its willingness to support important causes. She added that CALM remains a charity close to the team’s heart and that continued fundraising efforts aim to help tackle suicide and improve mental health support across the sector.
MARCH
JDW hits £26m fundraising milestone
Pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has raised £26m for their long-standing charity partner Young Lives vs Cancer.
Since the partnership began in 2002, JDW teams and customers have completed numerous fundraising activities, including football tournaments, mountain climbs, skydives, quizzes and raffles.
Fund raised will go towards supporting thousands of children and young people with cancer and their families.
Young Lives vs Cancer chief executive Rachel Kirby-Rider said: “JDW staff and customers have shown incredible dedication and generosity over more than two decades of partnership.”
To mark the milestone, a celebration event took place at The Hedley Verity pub in Leeds, the Wetherspoon pub that raised the most money since the partnership passed the £25m mark.
JDW chief executive John Hutson added: “ We are incredibly proud of the partnership we have built with Young Lives vs Cancer.
“The money raised is a testament to the generosity of our customers and the enthusiasm and dedication of our pub teams across the UK.”
FEBRUARY
LTC reports record year of support
The Licensed Trade Charity has released its annual Impact Report confirming a record year of support for people working in pubs, bars and breweries.
The charity assisted around 45,000 individuals during 2025, an uplift of 12.5% compared with the previous year.
LTC delivered increased levels of practical advice, financial assistance and wellbeing support through its website, helpline and employee assistance programme.
In total, more than £1.8 million was awarded in grants and services, rising from £1.5 million in 2024.
Demand for the charity’s 24 hour confidential helpline also grew, with over 6,000 calls received, up from 3,959 the year before.
With NHS counselling waits reaching up to 126 days, LTC provided rapid access to wellbeing support, matching individuals with counsellors within one day.
Chief executive Chris Welham said the results reflect both the scale of need and the dedication of LTC teams, supporters and partners.
Drake & Morgan reaches £500k milestone for Maggie’s cancer charity
Drake & Morgan has raised £500,000 for its long standing charity partner Maggie’s, marking a significant milestone in the group’s commitment to supporting people with cancer and their families.
The 16-site bar and restaurant group has partnered with Maggie’s since 2019, embedding charitable giving into everyday operations through hero dishes, customer donations and estate wide fundraising activity.
The funds raised have helped Maggie’s provide free emotional and practical support across its UK centres and has enabled more than 8,000 people to receive financial guidance from benefits advisors, allowed a key centre to remain open for over 30 weeks and supported 25,000 people with a cancer diagnosis in accessing help from a cancer support specialist.
Adam Feder, head of corporate partnerships at Maggie’s, said the continued support from Drake & Morgan has made a tangible difference to the thousands of people who rely on the charity each year.
Chief executive Jillian MacLean added: “To have raised over half a million pounds for Maggie’s is a wonderful achievement for the whole team at D&M. I’m immensely proud and would like to extend our thanks to our lovely customers for their kind donations and support.”
Craft Union raises over £1m for charity for second year running
Craft Union Pub Company has surpassed its £1m fundraising mark for the second consecutive year, with its community pubs raising £1,358,422 for local causes through the nationwide ‘Make It A Million’ campaign.
The achievement builds on last year’s success and highlights the continued commitment of Craft Union operators, pub teams and support colleagues to make a positive difference in their communities.
Since February last year, every Craft Union pub has taken part in fundraising through events, donations and volunteering.
Of the total raised, £1,272,613 came directly from pubs, supported by a further £85,809 from Craft Union’s support teams.
Charities benefitting most include Macmillan and the Motor Neurone Disease Association, alongside growing contributions to wellbeing and social enterprise projects.
The New Inn in Keynsham raised £99,000, The Cross Keys in Hull raised £63,000, the Garden House in Norwich raised £40,000, the Greenford Arms raised £22,000 and the Malt Shovel in Pontefract raised over £14,000.
Managing director Frazer Grimbleby said: “Reaching £1 million for local causes second year running is an incredible achievement and one we’re immensely proud of. It’s a powerful reminder of the vital role our pubs play at the heart of their communities and the social impact they create when people come together with a shared purpose."
JANUARY
Greene King launches partnership to make football more inclusive in pubs
Kick It Out and Guinness 0.0 have joined forces with Greene King to launch a new partnership aimed at making football fans feel like they belong.
The initiative will begin as a pilot across 900 Greene King sport pubs in the UK, marking a significant step in tackling discrimination in spaces where millions of fans gather to watch football.
From March, 4,000 members of Greene King’s Pub Leadership team will receive training on inclusive behaviours linked to football, with this knowledge expected to roll out to a further 12,000 team members.
Customers will also gain access to new education and reporting tools designed to help them identify and report discriminatory behaviour in pubs.
Research commissioned by Kick It Out shows that 8 in 10 people believe pubs should strive to be inclusive and that many fans, particularly women, feel less comfortable in pubs when football is shown.
One in five Britons has experienced discrimination or harassment in a pub, rising to three in five among disabled people and LGBTQ+ communities.
The three year partnership will see Greene King sites display Kick It Out branding and information on how to report discrimination.
Pub launches weekly group for SEN children and their families
A community pub in Greater Manchester has launched a weekly SEN friendly group to provide a calm and supportive environment for children with additional needs.
The Volunteer in Sale, a Joseph Holt pub operated by licensee Ocean Johnson, has introduced the sessions after recognising how challenging everyday outings can be for children with sensory sensitivities. Inspired by her eight year old brother, Ocean created the group to offer a safe and welcoming space where children can relax and be themselves.
The sessions run every Saturday morning from 10am to 12 noon before the pub opens to the public and are thought to be the first of their kind to be hosted in a UK pub.
Children and their families are offered a free breakfast, tea and coffee, along with arts and crafts, puzzles and games tailored to the needs of those attending.
Joseph Holt Brewery, which operates 127 pubs across the North West, also supports initiatives including menopause and bereavement groups and dementia friendly sessions.
Greene King raises £4 million for Macmillan Cancer Support
Greene King has celebrated a record fundraising year for its long standing charity partner Macmillan Cancer Support, raising more than £4 million during 2025.
The achievement follows the company’s announcement that it had reached a £25 million milestone over its 13-year partnership with the cancer support charity.
During the first half of the year Greene King teams and customers helped raise nearly £1.7 million to support Macmillan’s Support Line, which offers emotional, practical and financial guidance to people living with cancer and their families. The funds raised could help the support line team operate for just over 10 months and offer assistance to almost 32,000 people.
In the second half of the year fundraising focused on Macmillan professionals, raising over £2.3 million, which could fund more than 60 Macmillan nurses for six months.
Macmillan chief executive Gemma Peters said: “As a charity that relies almost entirely on public donations, the generosity of partners like Greene King means we can continue to do whatever it takes to get everyone with cancer vital support, whoever and wherever they are.”
Admiral Taverns raises more than £80k for Claire House in 2025
Admiral Taverns has raised more than £80,255 for Claire House Children’s Hospice following a year of fundraising activity across its estate and head office teams.
The community pub operator, which runs more than 1,300 pubs across England, Scotland and Wales, named Claire House as its charity partner at the start of 2025 and has already delivered strong support for the hospice.
Claire House provides specialist nursing care, emotional support and end of life services for seriously and terminally ill children and their families.
The charity was the focus of Admiral’s major 21.6km fundraising walk in May, which involved employees, family members and friends and raised £50k.
Further initiatives took place throughout the year, including a festive campaign across Proper Pubs sites from November to December, with activities ranging from raffles to Christmas jumper days.
The seasonal programme contributed a further £16,310.
Chief executive Chris Jowsey praised the collective effort across the business and the generosity shown by local communities.
Stonegate launches two-year partnership with CALM
Stonegate Group has announced a two year national partnership with Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), launching today (19 January 2026) with the aim of placing suicide prevention and mental health support at the centre of Britain’s pubs, bars and venues.
Through its ‘Cheers to Checking In’ campaign, Stonegate will promote CALM’s messaging across its estate, using in venue signage and digital screens to encourage conversation, awareness and early support.
The collaboration highlights the important role pubs play in social connection at a time when one in four people experience suicidal thoughts and mental health pressures are rising across the hospitality workforce.
Stonegate teams, colleagues and partners will take part in fundraising and awareness activity throughout the partnership.
A nationwide activation with Beavertown Brewery will run from 19 to 25 January, encouraging guests to take part in shared social moments and raise funds for CALM.
To mark the launch, Stonegate will match all funds raised in the first week.
Chief executive David McDowall said the partnership reflects Stonegate’s commitment to community wellbeing and the importance of CALM’s work.
CALM chief executive Simon Gunning said Stonegate’s national reach will help bring life saving support to people where they socialise and spend time together.
St Austell Brewery beer festival raises £18k for South West charities
St Austell Brewery’s Celtic Beer Festival has raised £18k for charitable causes across the South West, following a major turnout at the November event.
All proceeds will go to the St Austell Brewery Charitable Trust, which has donated more than £1m to local charities and individuals since its creation in 2003.
The festival transformed the brewery’s cellars into an event space, hosting five bars and more than 100 beers from over 50 UK breweries. Many brewers donated their beers to support the initiative.
Brewing director Georgina Young said the 24th edition of the festival showcased brewing creativity and the strong community spirit behind the event.
“It’s a chance for our brewers to show case their creativity and, most importantly, every pint poured helped us raise a huge amount of money, which will make a meaningful difference for charities, individuals and organisations here in the South West.”
The festival remains the Trust’s flagship fundraiser alongside activities such as pub quizzes, sponsored walks and an annual charity gala, which raised £47k last year.
- See positive stories from across the sector in 2025 here.
