Garstang pub wins national award for impressive community support

A Garstang pub has been named as one of just three Community Pub Heroes.

The Bellflower won the Community Support award in a national competition organised by PubAid and the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, sponsored by Matthew Clark.

The trophy was presented to The Bellflower’s licensee Heather Porter-Brandwood at an awards ceremony at the House of Commons on Tuesday 28 March. In addition, both Matthew Clark and PubAid will be donating £250 each to a charity chosen by the pub.

The Bellflower, a Marston’s pub, won the award for its impressive support for the local community.

Porter-Brandwood and her team have turned the pub into a vital hub that offers help to the local community.

Services have included a free Christmas dinner for those who would otherwise be alone, providing sanitary products to people facing period poverty, sourcing school uniforms for struggling families, and a free meal for forces and veterans on Remembrance Sunday. They have also trained all staff to provide a welcoming space for people living with dementia.

L-R: John Steele, Trade Marketing Director, Matthew Clark; Heather and Caroline Porter-Brandwood of The Bellflower; The Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP, Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group; Des O’Flanagan, PubAid co-founder

Presenting the trophy, Matthew Clark Trade Marketing Director John Steele said: “We are delighted to recognise The Bellflower’s incredible support for the community by naming them as one of our Community Pub Heroes. Our congratulations to Heather and her team for this well-deserved recognition.”

PubAid co-founder Des O’Flanagan added: “We received 200 entries for our awards, so reaching the final 15 was an achievement in itself and going on to take one of the top awards is a triumph.

“We’re delighted with the recognition the Awards give to all our finalists and winners, who are truly a force for good in their communities.”

Speaking about her pub’s win, Porter-Brandwood said: “It was amazing to be shortlisted for this award, to win it is unbelievable.

“We’ve always believed that if you’re in a position, as we are, where you can help people, why wouldn’t you help? That’s why we’ve supported such a lot of local charities and good causes over the years, and will continue to do so for as long as we’re at the pub.”