Torbay pub raises an astonishing £50K for charity

A 'backstreet' pub in Torbay is raising a glass after smashing through a remarkable fundraising milestone.

The multi-award-winning Queen's Arms in Brixham has raised a staggering £50,000 for local charities with a string of popular beer festivals and other events.

The Station Hill boozer recently staged the prize presentation night for its 10th beer festival.

The fundraisers defied one of the worst of the winter’s storms to come up with the cash for a cause close to their hearts.

The latest festival coincided with the arrival of Storm Darragh, but regulars braved the gales and downpours to support the event and raised £8,083 for the charity Pete's Dragons, which helps people bereaved by suicide.

The festival was held in memory of a regular customer at the pub who took her own life last year.

Above: Queen's Arms Beer Fest trophy

An event spokesman said: "In spite of really bad weather that weekend with weather warnings and everyone's sirens going off on their phones, we were able to raise an incredible £8083.00 for our charity, Pete's Dragons, who help people bereaved by suicide in memory of our regular customer who sadly took her own life early last year."

She added: "We also managed to smash our £50,000 target, taking us to an amazing £51,345.67 from 10 beer festivals, which is incredible for a small backstreet pub in Brixham."

Landlord Chris Simmonds said: "I have been lucky to have had supportive locals, friends, and family who have all helped and contributed over the years to this brilliant achievement. I have been proud to support such an amazing charity, Pete's Dragons, the work they do is amazing."  He presented the cheque to Pete's Dragons charity founder Alison Jordan. 

A pre-festival blind beer and cider tasting by groups of local customers takes place the evening before the festival, and they are judged in categories, and so at the presentation evening, the winning breweries were presented with their certificates as well as the presentation of the cheque to the chosen charity.

Above: Queen's Arms landlord Chris Simmonds with festival winner Otter Brewery

The event was attended by representatives of seven local breweries: Hunts Ciders, Otter Brewery, St Austell Brewery, Teignmouth Brewery, Teignworthy, Branscombe Vale, and Dartmoor Brewery, who are amazing in their support of the Queen's Arms Beer Fest.  Otter Brewery won the overall Beer of the Festival title.

The pub has been crowned South Devon CAMRA's Pub of the Year on several occasions. 

Writing on the pub’s website, Mr Simmonds said: “We are a simple back street boozer and our aim is to bring back traditional values for locals and visitors alike."

Other charities to have benefitted from the Queen's Arms fund-raisers include Great Ormond Street, charity Tommy's, the Golden Vanity Trust and the Royal British Legion.

Plans are already under way for Beer Festival Number 11. Landlord Chris says: "Looking forward to this year's beer festival we have chosen Torbay Armed Forces Support which is a new and much needed charity helping our veterans in Torbay."