A bigger splash

May 21, 2015

The second Henley Club to Pub Swim is taking place on Saturday 25 July and brewer and pub operator Brakspear is helping to recruit swimmers by covering the entry cost for its licensees and by providing a bottle of commemorative Two Bells beer for all who complete the 1.5 km course.

Brakspear helped to create the inaugural Henley Club to Pub Swim, which saw 169 swimmers take to the Thames last August. This year, any Brakspear licensee taking the plunge will have their entry fee paid by Brakspear.

This year’s swim will follow the same course as in 2014, with competitors swimming upstream from Henley Rowing Club to Marsh Lock and then down to the Angel on the Bridge. Swimmers will start on the 7 o’ o’clock evening chime of St. Mary the Virgin church, with the aim of finishing it before the bells ring for 8 o’clock.

Brakspear is once again providing all swimmers with a bottle of the commemorative Two Bells beer and putting on a barbecue and party at the Angel on the Bridge for all who finish the course and their supporters. Finishers also receive a medal which doubles as a bottle opener to provide an immediate post-race thirst-quencher.

Two Bells, a 3.7% ABV golden ale specially brewed by Brakspear to mark the event, is also being made available in cask this year, so will be sold in Henley’s pubs at the time of the swim.

Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies said, “Living in Henley inevitably involves doing something on the Thames, whether rowing or swimming or just watching from the banks. So as a company with centuries-old roots in the town, we were delighted to be part of the first Club to Pub Swim and pleased that it has become an annual event.

“We hope that more swimmers will take part in the race this year, including some of our licensees and teams from our pubs, and we look forward to celebrating with them all at the Angel on the Bridge.  Completing the swim is quite an achievement and those who manage it certainly deserve our respect, as well as a bottle of beer and a barbecue!”

To enter the swim, visit www.brakspear.co.uk/swim

Caption to above image: Henley Club to Pub Swim 2014 completers (l-r) Joel Morgan, Paul Allen and Nikkie Allen, with a bottle of Brakspear’s Two Bells