Home is where the heart is
September 29, 2014
Brakspear shortlisted for ‘Heart of the Community’ award
Henley brewer and pub operator Brakspear has reached the finals of a pub industry award scheme for its support for local community initiatives including this summer’s Henley in Bloom competition and the Henley Club to Pub swim.
Brakspear is a finalist in the ‘Heart of the Community’ Award, organised by the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), the body that represents the majority of the UK’s family brewers and pub operators. Judges were impressed by Brakspear’s commitment to the community in and around Henley, as demonstrated through their own programmes and partnerships with local groups.
Some of the initiatives that earned Brakspear a finalist’s place were: helping Henley in Bloom’s ‘Going for Gold’ campaign with a donation of £800 from sales of its specially-brewed ‘Blooming Marvellous’ beer; supporting the first ever Henley Club to Pub Swim with a commemorative beer ‘Two Bells’, given to every competitor; participating in the Friends of the Earth’s ‘Bee Cause’ campaign to save the bee, by encouraging its licensees to plant bee-friendly flowers and, finally, starting the Brakspear Jazz & Blues Festival, which supports local musicians and local pubs.
Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies said, “We’re delighted to be shortlisted for this award, which reflects our growing support for the local community over the last couple of years. The opening of our microbrewery on Bell Street last year has allowed us to brew special-edition beers, such as Blooming Marvellous and Two Bells, in support of local events and causes.
“We’re grateful to the local groups such as the Henley in Bloom committee and Henley Swim who have worked with us so enthusiastically, and we look forward to partnering with them and others in future.”
The winner of the Heart of the Community will be announced by the BBPA on Wednesday, 8 October.
Above photograph shows: Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies (centre) presenting a cheque to (left) Marisa Francini, Henley in Bloom coordinator and (right) Kellie Hinton of Henley Town Council