Admiral Taverns crowns Community Pub of the Year
The Old Kings Head has won Admiral Taverns’ Community Pub of the Year.
Admiral Taverns has crowned the winner of its Community Pub of the Year Awards, which recognises the efforts of its licensees going the extra mile for their communities.
The pub company, which has around 1,400 pubs, launched the competition across its leased and tenanted division in 2023.
For 2024, The Old Kings Head in Worle was victorious thanks to its outstanding ongoing contribution to local life. Since taking over in 2019, licensees Glynn and Lindsey Smith have raised a total of over £21,000 for an array of charities and causes, including Weston Hospice, Help for Heroes and British Heart Foundation.
The couple has also invested in having a defibrillator installed at the pub to ensure there’s one easily accessible to the public in the case of an emergency.
The Smiths have received £500 credit on their trading account along with a £500 donation – in the pub’s name – to a charity of their choice.
Incredible contributions
"On behalf of myself and the whole team at Admiral Taverns, I would like to thank Glynn and Lindsey for their incredible contributions to their local community," says Chris Jowsey, chief executive of Admiral Taverns (pictured). "I’m blown away by all the efforts of our licensees across the country, whether that is raising money for local charities or hosting coffee mornings for the elderly, they are always going above and beyond.
"At Admiral, we strongly believe that pubs are so much more than a place to drink and this stands testament to that. It’s wonderful to be able to recognise and show our appreciation for those that work tirelessly to support every aspect of community life."
The Old Kings Head continues to sponsor and host numerous local sports teams. In addition, the couple have registered the pub as a ‘Community Living Room’ to provide those struggling with the cost-of-living crisis with a free, non-judgemental space to come together.
Most recently, Glynn took part in a 20-mile charity walk in Bristol, with four regular customers, raising £2,300 for The Darby Rimmer MND Foundation. The pub also hosts an annual summer festival ‘Kings Fest’ in aid of the local foodbank.