Lockdown has been tough for everyone, for pubs and breweries who have seen their very livelihoods threatened and for their customers, some of whom have not been able to leave their homes for many months. Of course, in these times everyone who has kept providing a service, be it by continuing to deliver beer to pubs, or by ensuring customers can still enjoy their much-treasured pints, can be classed as heroes.
But, at the beginning of August we asked branch members to nominate their own ‘Lockdown Heroes’, either a licensee or a brewer who you felt had gone above and beyond the call of duty to help their community.
Below are the pub licensee’s you felt were worthy of the title ‘Lockdown Hero’. Thank you to all the nominators and congratulations to the worthy winners.
Sam Mercer, Volunteer Canteen, Waterloo, nominated by Ian Holden
The pub is often the hub of the community, and lock down led to a feeling of isolation for many people, to try and counteract this, Sam set up a group messaging system which allowed regular customers to keep in touch with each other. The pub’s charity funds were diverted to providing face shields for the NHS and then for local shop workers and hairdressers. When the pub reopened it was initially for off sales, once the appropriate social distancing measures were in place, customers were welcomed back, once again. Sam ensured that all the necessary rules were adhered to in order to keep his customers safe and keep the beers flowing.
John Murphy, Maghull Cask, nominated by Damian Warburton
Maghull Cask was the first pub in the area to re-open and provide a takeout service. In recognition of the fact that customers weren’t getting the full pub experience John also dropped his prices. There was a clear beer ordering system, and social media was used to update customers on which beers were available. John even gave his regulars a heads up on which beers were in stock to make sure they didn’t miss out, for many of them, their Thursday beer pick up was the high light of their week during. The pub has now re opened and continues to be a safe and welcoming place for drinkers.
Fiona and Dominic Hornsby, and Ian Forster, The Denbigh Castle nominated by Jennifer Mallon
Trying to keep one pub operating in these difficult times is a challenge, keeping one running whilst opening a new one seems
an almost impossible task. But that is what Fiona and Dominic Hornby, and Ian Foster have done during lock down, opening the much-anticipated Denbigh Castle whilst also running the award winning Bridewell. The Denbigh Castle was due to open in the first week of March, then, of course, the country went into lockdown and the opening was delayed until July. During this time, the trio worked tirelessly to ensure their employees across both pubs kept their jobs and it is a credit to their dedication that the Denbigh Castle is now open in these difficult times for the industry.
Patrick and Eric Mills, Cask, nominated by Ian Dickman
A former Liverpool CAMRA pub of the year, Cask sadly closed it’s doors in October 2019, and it wasn’t until February that the pub re-opened, only to be forced to closed again in March. When the pub re-opened again Patrick and Eric ran a takeaway service with a difference, delivering beer directly to Cask’s most vulnerable customers. This was greatly appreciated by one customer in particular who was shielding and could not leave the house, beer was delivered directly to his doorstep, despite living less than 5 minutes away from the pub.
