What a 12 months that has been….
It’s early January 2019 and the West Riding Licensed Refreshment Rooms is packed to rafters to celebrate turning 25 years old. It is also the night that the West25 Charity Challenge was launched with the specific aim of raising £10000 for three great local charities, namely – Kirkwood Hospice, Candlelighters Trust & Ben’s Music Foundation.
The idea behind the challenge was to give back to the local communities that are at the heart of Beerhouses pubs. Beerhouses are proud to be at the heart of local communities, employ local people and use wherever possible local brewers, producers and contractors and as such see the great work these charities do for our friends, families and customers. Beerhouses felt it important that they gave something back after 25 years and as such we set the ambitious challenge of raising £10000.
There have been numerous challenges undertaken in a bid to raise this money as well as many other smaller in pub events. The key Charity Challenges included doing the 3 peaks, climbing Snowdon & Scafell, walking from Stalybridge Buffet Bar to the West Riding and cycling the Liverpool to Leeds canal. Sarah Barnes, Director of Beerhouses took on all these challenges and was joined on them by a selection of team members, customers, friends & family and finished every single one.
The pub commissioned a calendar for 2020 featuring staff & customers in familiar situations from through the years with photographs kindly taken by local photographer Jason Batley, there was a book sold that was written by Christine Wood and set in The West Riding as well as numerous smaller in pub events which all brought in some good funds including Beerhouses Office manager Clare Cleverly & her husband donating their time and petrol during Sober October to provide a donation only taxi service.
As well as celebrating 25 years trading The West was celebrating again after winning Heavy Woollen CAMRA pub of the year. Since the West’s inception this has been an award that has been won on many occasions due to the quality & range of the cask ale it sells. This also played a big part in the charitable efforts as a beer brewed in collaboration with Elland Brewery was sold throughout 2019 with 10p from every pint going to the fund. ‘Line Four’ proved to be a best seller and raised over £2500 from the pints sold.
Barry Shaw, Sales & Operations Manager for Beerhouses Pubs is proud of the effort that all the staff, friends & customers of the West Riding have put in during 2019 for the Charity Cause.
“We are delighted to say that we beat our tough target of £10000 to be split amongst our three great charities, as it stands we have raised around £10300 with some still to come in. The effort some people have put in has been extraordinary and just goes to show how much people care and how good pubs are at raising money for charity. I would also like to thank some of our suppliers such as Elland Brewery, Cave Direct North & Timothy Taylors for their help and donations throughout this year as they have really helped us hit our target.
There will be a presentation to the charities on January 23rd at The West Riding, when there will also be a presentation by CAMRA in recognition of The West’s 25 consecutive years (& ever-present) in the Good Beer Guide and everyone is welcome to help us celebrate the year.
For more information about Beerhouses, The West Riding or any other Beerhouses pubs & events as well as charity updates please check out www.beerhouses.co.uk or out Facebook, Twitter & Instagram pages.