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.
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.
