UNITED KINGDOM: English country pub put up for adoption on internet in attempt to raise funds for rural drinking houses

Record ID: 336529

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: English country pub put up for adoption on internet in attempt to raise funds for rural drinking houses
  • Date: 20th June 2003
  • Summary: (L!1) KEMBLE, NR CIRENCESTER, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM (RECENT) (REUTERS) ARTHUR AYRES WALKING TO HIS LOCAL PUB 'THE TAVERN INN' INTERIOR OF TAVERN/ LANDLADY NYRA STEPP POURING ARTHUR'S BEER ARTHUR COMING INSIDE/ SITTING DOWN (SOUNDBITE) (English) JON ELLARD, DIRECTOR, PUBS2000.COM, SAYING "In Gloucestershire particularly we had a number of crises, including foo
  • Embargoed: 5th July 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KEMBLE, NR CIRENCESTER, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA2FTK4TZXS0VVA38RZGACIW37G
  • Story Text: English country pub regulars have been put up for adoption on an Internet site in an attempt to raise funds for rural drinking houses. The novelty of sponsoring a drinker is expected to help promote Gloucestershire's traditional pubs and inns.
    Arthur Ayres is a regular at the "Tavern Inn". At 90 the retired game-keeper, nicknamed Weasel, has been coming to the pub every day for 52 years. He's got his own special seat, his own special beer glass and drinks nothing but the local ale. Arthur is up for adoption on the 'Adopt a Drinker and Save a Pub' scheme.
    The scheme, running on the pub2000.com, website offers people the chance to sponsor a regular drinker for £20 a year, which is split between charities supporting rural pubs and the drinker. In return, sponsors will receive a certificate, a signed photo of their adoptee, a beer mat and a newsletter giving updates on how their drinker is faring.
    Jon Ellard, who runs the site, said his idea was inspired by similar projects in zoos. Pubs in the English county of Gloucestershire have been suffering from falling visitor numbers.
    He said: "In Gloucestershire particularly we had a number of crises, including foot and mouth, on the global scale the terrorist threats haven't helped tourism, and basically pubs have seen their trade die off a bit. Less people have been coming out, less tourists have been coming into the country, so we really wanted to do something, say look the pubs are still here, they're still in business, get off your asses and come to the pubs."
    At the moment around 53 people are up for adoption, but Mr Ellard hopes more will join. Neil Jackson, one of Arthur's sponsors likes the scheme. He said: "It is a very new scheme and it is very good, at the same time it's an incentive for the pubs themselves, to show that they have locals that they actually want to look after."
    The Tavern Inn has been 'wining' Arthur for so long, he's become an institution. Landlady Nyra says the last count suggests that he's really had quite a few to drink. She said: "Somebody actually worked it out that he'd actually drunk more than a swimming-pool, and that was probably two years ago so I think we're on our second now."
    As long as it keeps Arthur happy, the scheme is doing some good, putting money back into the 'Tavern Inn'.
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