Passionate pub enthusiasts, including the London Pub Explorer and CityStack London Pub Collection, are joining forces for Support an Independent Pub Day, on Saturday 15th February.
Hope McPherson, general manager of the Horn of Plenty, Stepney Green
To encourage people to visit independent pubs, the team of pub advocates will actively promote the event through their social media communities.
All independent pubs are invited to join in spreading the word, calling both loyal patrons and new visitors to come together and celebrate the unique sense of belonging these ‘homes away from home’ provide.
The hope is that on Saturday, 15th February, local independent pubs will be bursting at the seams with revelling customers, ready to help the pubs achieve their targets of pint sales. This influx of support will not only boost revenue after the challenging Dry January period, but also inspire more people to embrace these establishments all year round.
The phrase “Use it or lose it” has never felt more urgent, say the organisers.
The movement will be joined by many pub enthusiasts, including Phil Carr, a renowned TikTok creator whose community gathers over 987,000 followers, and Historic Pub Crawls, followed by more than 154,000 pub fans on Instagram.
Phil said: “Like many, I strongly value the importance of independent pubs in our communities, which is why I think initiatives such as Support an Independent Pub Day and the CityStack London Pub Collection are excellent ways to encourage people to visit these community hubs.”
‘Once a pub closes,it’s usually gone forever’
Alistair Von Lion, AKA the London Pub Explorer, will invite his Instagram community to gather at the Horn of Plenty, a historic independent pub in Stepney Green. “The Horn of Plenty is very close to my heart as it carries the sadly vanishing pub traditions of the past in East London,” he said.
“Once, there were hundreds of street corner pubs. So many have now closed and often without even a trace of their existence left. Once a pub closes it’s usually gone forever, and publican Hope, like so many, toils stoically to keep these bastions of British culture alive.
“We need to protect and support these local stalwarts, cherished by their communities, where people can come to break bread and unwind. I want to encourage people to discover these pubs and help keep them alive by visiting them.”
Hope McPherson, general manager of the Horn of Plenty, said: “This pub is truly a gem in Stepney Green, where people from all walks of life come for a drink. It provides a space for friends to meet up and for lonely patrons to connect for a few hours.
“The financial challenges we’ve been facing for years threaten us greatly, and the loss of a pub like ours would cause immeasurable damage to the local community. The importance of a pub in a local community is often underestimated, but we must cherish them!
“I was delighted when the London Pub Explorer and the CityStack team offered to help us tackle these challenges and encourage people to visit us on Support Independent Pub Day.”
Alison Boutoille, founder of the CityStack London Pub Collection, said: “Thanks to the power of ‘FOMO,’ events are an effective way to draw people into these establishments. We aim to leverage this, alongside our voucher scheme dedicated to independent pubs, to help these establishments attract as many visitors as possible during this quieter time of year.
“We want this event to be owned by the independent pubs that participate, empowering them to create unique experiences that reflect their individual identities. We will provide them with communication materials, but encourage each pub to create its own special events for this day, allowing them to showcase their uniqueness and connect with their communities.”
