Bays Brewery, in Paignton, has once again shown the power of community, raising £4,815 for four Devon charities close to its heart through its 2025 charity brews.
Left to right: Bays Brewery directors Mark Salmon and Peter Salmon, with head brewer and director Will Freeland
The family-run brewery achieved the total with the help of beer lovers across the county, who were only too happy to support good causes by enjoying a pint of Bays’ big-hearted brews.
The first charity ale of the year, Evergreen, was created with the former Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust. It was a session IPA inspired by the region’s wildlife and wild spaces, raising £1,050.
Spring saw Bays partner with Paignton Zoo for Claw, which raised £1,500 towards the refurbishment of a new swimming pool for its critically endangered Sumatran tigers.
One of a long line of animal-themed charity ales, the collaboration delivered a powerful boost for conservation and helped take Bays’ total donations to £30,000 and helping halt species decline.
The partnership also saw four brave members of the Bays team roll up their sleeves and help clear years of debris from inside the tiger enclosure, paving the way for the zoo’s new pool for its water-loving big cats.
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For its third charity beer of the year, Bays raised a glass to the heroic volunteers of Torbay RNLI with a golden ale called Ahoy, timed for summer and Torbay RNLI’s CrewFest 2025 event. The charity beer proved a hit, supporting one of the UK’s busiest lifeboat stations as it entered its most demanding season, and raising £1,250.
Rounding off the charity line-up in November was Jingle Ale, a bitter brewed to spread festive cheer, with 5% of proceeds donated to Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW). Supporting children and families across the South West living with life-limiting illnesses, the final charity brew of 2025 raised £1,015.
“With many local charities facing unprecedented demand alongside inadequate funding, we’re proud to play a small part in helping raise vital funds for four truly incredible causes,” said Bays Brewery director Peter Salmon.
“I’d like to say a huge thank you to our customers, local pubs, and retailers who supported our charity brews throughout the year. This collective effort shows the power of community and the role local businesses can play in creating positive change.”
Bays Brewery will be saying ‘cheers’ once again in 2026, with four new charity brews planned. Five per cent of proceeds from every pint and bottle sold will be donated to leading Devon charities.
