Brewing Good Cheer

Brewing Good Cheer, which is now in its fourth year, celebrates the important role pubs play in communities by bringing people together for a festive event, especially those who might not often get a chance to visit their local. Pubs who take part in the campaign host free events such as Christmas lunches, coffee mornings or even a mince pie and a pint for local charities and community groups. 

 

According to the Office of National Statistics, nearly 11,500 of the over 65’s in Warwickshire experience loneliness. 

 

Through Brewing Good Cheer, Heineken wants to show that the pub is so much more than a place to have a pint, it’s a place where communities can come together. Heineken believes pubs have an important role to play in helping to alleviate the problem by providing a welcoming place where people can connect with their neighbours and wider communities. 

 

Galanos House residents and carers, joined Mark Connors from The Bowling Green Pub and his staff for a Christmas lunch, followed by a ‘festive sing song’ in his idyllic pub which is situated in the heart of Southam, where it has a long standing history of serving the local community. The pub regularly raises money in aid of charities both local and national, to bring the community together and the ‘Brewing Good Cheer’ lunch, served in the pub’s new private dining area (built with local community groups specifically in mind), really got everyone in the festive spirit. 

 

Denise Goodwin from Galanos House comments: “Galanos House offers nursing and personal care as well as respite and day care for the Armed Forces community and their families and our dedicated team provide 24-hour expert care and support, including a specialist dementia wing. We are delighted to have been invited to be part of this fantastic initiative. Friendship and camaraderie play a big part in the day to day life at Galanos House and Mark and his team at the pub gave us a very warm welcome and really put a smile on the face of everyone who came along.” 

 

Mark Connors who runs the Bowling Green pub said: “Brewing Good Cheer is an amazing initiative which helps us to give something back to the community. Galanos House is close to the hearts of many in the local community and indeed staff at the Bowling Green too and initiatives like this are a great idea for helping to combat loneliness, whatever age you are, which is why we were keen to take part. It seems particularly poignant that this year is the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Galanos House is home to many different ages, but their eldest member is an 102 year old veteran who is in the home’s choir and with the youngest choir member being a 27 year old staff member – it’s wonderful to hear of friendships and camaraderie spanning different ages.” 

 

Lawson Mountstevens, Managing Director for Star Pubs & Bars, Heineken UK said: “The Great British pub is at the heart of the community. It’s a place where people from all walks of life can come together to meet old friends, make new friends and enjoy the pubs surroundings. 

 

“We’re delighted to be working with more of our pub landlords than ever for the fourth year of Brewing Good Cheer. We want to bring people together, to show them exactly what our great pubs have to offer, not just at Christmas time but all year long.” 

 

Heineken’s Brewing Good Cheer campaign is going from strength to strength and is now in its fourth year. In 2018, 100 pubs took part in hosting Christmas lunches for over 2,000 people as part of the initiative. That figure is set to increase to 150 pubs in 2019. 

 

Other pubs in and around Southam also hosting a Brewing Good Cheer festive coffee morning, lunch or afternoon tea include The Dovecote in Narborough. 

For further press information, please contact: 

 

Mark Connors 

07711 358040 

 

Denise Goodwin 

01926 812185 

 

on behalf of Brewing Good Cheer 

07768 264132