Heineken campaign to reinforce pubs' community role

National Poetry Slam champion Solomon Ogunmefun-Brooker, known as Solomon O.B, met staff and regulars at three pubs across the UK to listen to heart-warming stories from each site, which are hubs of their community​.

First, Solomon went to the Crown & Horses in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire; a pub that was forced to close in 2015 after devastating floods.

It was down to the sheer hard work of locals that got together and returned the pub to its former glory.

Solomon then travelled to the Wheatsheaf in Woodplumpton, Lancashire, which, following the closure of the village’s post office, opened its own postal service facility.

Pubs are original social networks

Finally, the poet went to see the Elephant pub in Liverpool to find out about the site providing mothers in the community a place to get together every morning and chat over a cup of tea and biscuits.

You can watch the video made of Solomon’s nationwide journey here​.

The release of the poem was used to officially mark the launch of Heineken’s #BrewingGood Cheer campaign, which has been taking place in the run up to Christmas​.

Heineken’s Claire Matthews said: “Pubs are the original social networks so they are the perfect place to bring people together and help foster a tight-knit community spirit.

“We hope that #BrewingGood Cheer will shine a light on the wonderful examples of community togetherness and the role pubs play in this​ – from the everyday to the extraordinary.

Making a big difference

She added: “And by showing that even a small gesture, such as a chat over a drink and food, can make a big difference if you’re feeling lonely.

“We hope to encourage people to think about reaching out to someone they know in need of some company.”

At the heart of #BrewingGood Cheer will be a series of festive pub lunches across the country for locals who don’t have many friends or family around to spend Christmas​ with.

Community charities including the Royal Voluntary Service, Salford Start and Golden Oldies that will co-host the lunches to help reach people most in need of company.

Heineken will also be donating £50,000 to 50 charity and community projects that support people who are lonely or isolated across the country.