Pub full of cheer after award nod
IT’S SHORTLISTED FOR WORK IN THE COMMUNITY
BOSSES at a pub in South Derbyshire have been “blown away” after their amazing efforts to help hundreds of people in the community have been recognised in a national competition.
The Robin Hood, in Lullington Road, Overseal, is now a finalist in the Great British Pub Awards in the category of Hawthorn Pub of the Year.
The Hawthorn Leisure pub was nominated by the pub company due to its work supporting the local community.
Throughout the lockdowns and beyond, landlords Steve and Ruth Lewis and their grandson TJ Lewis have worked tirelessly alongside members of the community to prepare and deliver free school meals, run a community food bank and delivered Easter Eggs to hundreds of children who were unable to go out amid the first lockdown.
Mrs Lewis said: “We were blown away when we found out. It is something we have always been a part of in the community so it is special to be recognised.
“We are supported by our gala committee. Without them we couldn’t do what we did, they financed it and Morrisons donated.
“The Easter Egg delivery was the proudest thing we have done.
“We first held it just a few weeks after lockdown and you could see some of the children were frightened (about why they couldn’t go out) but they would be waving to us at their windows when we delivered the eggs. It was amazing to see.”
Members of the pub and community dressed up as a variety of different cartoon characters to deliver the chocolate goodies to children who had been nominated to receive an egg in Overseal.
The pub did not stop there and recently, along with the committee and Morrisons, helped prepare and deliver around 300 free school meals between the first and second lockdown.
It also became a food bank venue and helped support a women’s refuge.
Mrs Lewis added: “We can’t believe how many people in Overseal have given. It has been overwhelming.
“We have donated thousands of pounds worth of food. We would wake up in the morning and people would have lefts bags of food on the tables outside for the food bank and Morrisons would come with pallets. It has been unreal.” ■■Raising a glass to the some of the best county pubs... based on your advice - P16&17