A NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS pub has been crowned as lockdown heroes at a national awards.

The Victoria was named one of the winners at the 21st annual Great British Pub Awards, for going the extra mile to support the community during the height of the lockdown last spring.

When the pub had to close in March, licensee Kath O’Neill set up a food bank on-site and started making food hampers each morning to deliver to those who were vulnerable and shielding in the community.

Together with local volunteer group ‘Newton Helping Hands’, Kath and her team at the pub delivered to 150 houses per week throughout the lockdown period.

As Easter approached, the group helped to raise more than £1,000 to buy 2,500 Easter eggs, which were stored at the pub before being delivered on Easter Sunday to every primary school child in Newton-le-Willows.

Comedian Johnny Vegas got involved in the community effort and made weekly donations to the food bank. A takeaway service was also set up at The Victoria, for those who could still go out and about but who wanted to treat themselves.

St Helens Star:

The Helping Hands project

Having seen the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on communities across the country, and on the pubs that sit at their heart, The Great British Pub Awards have changed focus this year.

The aim was to recognise and celebrate publicans’ selfless acts of kindness in lockdown, from feeding vulnerable members of the community and providing NHS workers with somewhere to stay, to keeping morale high when people needed it most.

Coca-Cola has provided a £165,000 fund for the winning pubs, to help them continue their community work and make vital business improvements or upgrades over the coming months.

Nearly 1,000 pubs entered across the 15 categories, and the winners were chosen by the public. More than 65,000 voters had their say, before a virtual awards ceremony hosted by TV presenter Stephen Mulhern today, Thursday, September 24.

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Ed Bedington, editor of pub trade brand The Morning Advertiser, which organises the Great British Pub Awards, added: “Early on in the pandemic we received calls from pub owners telling us of the community work going on in towns, villages and cities.

“This was all being done despite the pub owners fearing for their own livelihoods. But they knew, even though they faced adversity themselves, they had to continue to support people in their communities. That’s just what publicans do.

“So, we wanted to bring to life these moving stories and give pubs the recognition.”

Coca-Cola GB Brands Director Paul Grace added: “Pubs are a vital part of Great British culture and provide a huge support to local communities. This year more than ever before, they’ve needed our support in return, which is why telling their stories through these awards is so important.

“Many of the pubs we’ve heard from have achieved amazing things in lockdown, crucially, with the support of their loyal customers. We must all keep looking out for each other while restrictions remain in place, to overcome the challenges that are still on the horizon.”

  • For more information and to watch the awards ceremony, which tells the stories of all the winning pubs, visit greatbritishpubawards.co.uk