PubAid Community Pub Hero finalists unveiled

The awards, sponsored by Diageo and supported by the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group, celebrate pubs that go above and beyond for their communities through support, fundraising, grassroots sport and sustainability.

PubAid said this year saw the highest number of MP nominations in the awards’ history, alongside entries from pubs and pub companies across the UK.

Finalists include pubs from Greene King, Fuller’s, Punch Pubs & Co, Marston’s, Admiral, Robinsons, Shepherd Neame, Stonegate and Caledonian Brewery, as well as brewing companies, independent operators and community owned pubs.

Winners will be revealed at a drinks reception at the House of Commons on Tuesday 8 September.

The finalists:

Community Support Hero

England

• The Oxleathers, Stafford
• The George and Dragon, Rutland
• The Old George Inn, South Yorkshire
• The George IV, Chiswick
• The Farmhouse Yate, Bristol
• The Snipe, Audenshaw

Scotland

• The Victoria Inn, East Lothian
• The Islay Inn, Glasgow
• The Vine Bar, Edinburgh

Wales

• The Halfway Pub, Abergavenny
• The Victoria, Mumbles, Swansea

Northern Ireland

• Lily’s Kitchen & Bar, County Antrim
• Bullhouse East, Belfast

Community Fundraising Hero

England

• The Beeswing, North Yorkshire
• The Malling Jug, Kent
• The Olive Branch, Rutland

Scotland

• The Auld Hoose, FifeThe Royal Oak, Aberdeenshire

Wales

• Bull Inn, Anglesey
• Pontardawe Inn, Swansea

Northern Ireland

• Patsy’s Bar, County Londonderry

Community Sport Hero

England

• Three Hounds, London
• The Royal Dyche, Burnley

Scotland

• The Athletic Arms, Diggers, Edinburgh

Wales

• Wild Horse Tap Room, Llandudno
• Riverside Sports Bar, Cardiff

Northern Ireland

• Teddy’s of Bangor, County Down

UK Sustainability Hero

• The Old House at Home, Surrey
• The George, Derbyshire
• The Pig & Whistle, Wandsworth
• The Wheatsheaf Inn, West Suffolk

Des O’Flanagan at PubAid said: “This year’s entries have once again provided an incredible snapshot of just how much pubs contribute to communities across the UK.

“From fundraising and grassroots sport to supporting local people and creating more sustainable businesses, there are some fantastic stories among our finalists.

“We’re particularly delighted to have received a record number of nominations from MPs this year. It helps us shine an even brighter spotlight on the role pubs play in their constituencies, and we look forward to bringing pubs and parliamentarians together at the House of Commons in September.”

The awards form part of PubAid’s wider work championing the social, sporting and charitable value of pubs, following the appointment of UKHospitality chair Kate Nicholls OBE as president last year.

The judging panel included Rita King, honorary secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group and PubAid steering group member; Elisabeth Rochford, ESG lead at Diageo GB; Paula Smith, head of marketing at the Licensed Trade Charity and PubAid steering group member; Paul Hegarty MBE, non executive director at SIBA; Tony Sophoclides, strategic affairs director at UKHospitality; and Yasmin Thornton at the British Institute of Innkeeping.