Portobello Brewing Co has raised more than £115,000 for Stonewall Housing, the UK charity supporting LGBTQ+ people experiencing homelessness or living in an unsafe environment.
For some years, the brewery has been creating Polari Pale Ale and Rainbow Pilsner. It has been donating 10p from every pint purchased and 5p from every can of beer sold to the charity.
“The Polari project was originally my idea, born from a personal desire to give back to the LGBTQ+ community, of which I am proud to be a part,” said Portobello’s Darren Williams.
“The project started with Polari Pale Ale, which was named in collaboration with Stonewall Housing service users, one of whom also helped to create the original artwork. Rainbow Pilsner came a little later, at the request of Stonegate, to supply their bars during pride month, expanding the Polari brand to two products.”
Since its launch in 2021, Polari has grown to be one of Portobello Brewing Co’s biggest selling beers, thanks to the support of a whole range of venues across the UK, including Stonegate, which lists both beers nationally.
The news follows the publication of Stonewall Housing’s Impact Report 2024/25 this week. It tells a story of both rising need and remarkable impact. Over the past year, 3,733 LGBTQ+ people turned to Stonewall for support — a 16.6% increase on the previous year.
“The Polari project is not just a fundraising initiative, but something rooted in care, community, and visibility,” said Darren. “We have worked closely with Stonewall Housing every step of the way, and it has been incredibly rewarding to see how the project has grown; from the naming and artwork process, to the expansion into Rainbow Pilsner, all reflecting that original spirit.”
Jamie Henderson, brand ambassador for Polari, said: “We generate the sales because we have a genuine and real product that makes a considerable difference.
“The charity maintains that they are helping more people than ever, and part of that is because more people know about them and this can definitely attributed to our beer being so visible in pubs across the country.”
