Pub is serving up kindness
CITY CENTRE WATERING HOLE TO OPEN ON CHRISTMAS DAY FOR ROUGH SLEEPERS AND PEOPLE CAN GET A FREE PINT IF THEY DONATE WARM CLOTHING
A PUB which will open on Christmas Day to help the homeless is asking people to bring in sleeping bags and coats in exchange for a free pint.
Staff at the Town Hall Tavern, in Tib Lane, off Cross Street, said they wanted to help after noticing the city’s homelessness problem getting worse.
On Christmas Day itself, the pub hopes to accommodate at least 60 homeless people from 3pm to 7pm, who will be invited to choose a meal from its menu and enjoy live music during the afternoon.
Staff also wanted to give those who attend the event something to help them keep warm during the winter.
To collect supplies, the pub is offering a pint to those who bring an item, such as a sleeping bag, a warm jacket or jumper, or gloves, hat and a scarf to the pub on Saturday, December 2.
Stalybridge-based brewer TicketyBrew donated nine gallons of beer for the pub’s appeal, which means about 70 free pints will be available on the day.
Last year, city centre pub the Old Nags Head also opened up for Christmas Day to help the homeless.
Landlord Sean Brett declared the event a huge success, with more than 300 people passing through the pub on the day with staff inundated with donations of clothes, food and other items to give away to the homeless. Rough sleepers were also catered for at football club FC United at their ground in Moston, where full breakfasts were laid on and they could have a shower.
Sam Foster, general manager of the Town Hall Tavern, said: “I was in Manchester on Christmas Day last year and was amazed at how many people were on the streets. I heard that the Old Nags Head did it last year, which I thought was amazing. Being in the city centre you see it day in day out and a lot of the same faces are out on the street.
“We want to be able to provide somewhere warm in a safe and cheerful environment that can give them the dignity everyone deserves during the festive period.”
On Sunday, November 26, the Town Hall Tavern is also hosting a fundraising event for its appeal, which will include live music, a raffle and stand up bingo, from 1pm to 9pm.