The Jack and Jill in Coulsdon is one of just 15 pubs from across the country to reach the finals of the Community Pub Hero Awards, organised by PubAid and the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group and sponsored by Matthew Clark.
Nationwide, 200 pubs entered the Community Pub Hero Awards, including 70 nominated by their local MP. Entries were judged by a panel of industry experts and the overall winners will be announced in March, with all finalists invited to a presentation at the House of Commons.
The competition first ran in 2018 and has been expanded this year to offer two categories for pubs: Community Support Hero or Charity Fundraising Hero, and a new Community Regular Hero where pubs nominated a supportive customer.
The Jack and Jill has always had a strong community focus, responding to the needs and wants of locals. It hosts a free knitting group, quiz nights, live music events, family fundays and a monthly ride out for local motorbike enthusiasts. They also serve as the pub of choice for Coulsdon Athletic FC’s post-game debriefs. They’ve made inclusivity and diversity a core part of the pub’s identity, offering a happy hour to bring in those with less disposable income and maintaining a commitment to never charge local residents for hiring out the pub; they were also the only local pub to celebrate Pride month in 2022.
PubAid co-founder Des O’Flanagan said: “Our heartfelt congratulations go to the Jack and Jill Choosing the finalists from a very strong set of entries was a real challenge and those pubs who have reached the shortlist should be very proud of their achievement.”
“Judges were hugely impressed by the stories from so many pubs, who have raised astonishing sums for charities, or provided incredible support for local people. The awards demonstrate, once again, that pubs are a force for good in their communities.”
John Steele, Trade Marketing Director, Matthew Clark added: “We were delighted to support this competition again and pleased to see an increase in the number of entries over last year. It is wonderful to hear about the great work done by licensees and their teams and we’re happy to be giving them well-deserved recognition.”
The pub was nominated by Elliot Colburn MP, who said: “I’m delighted to see that The Jack and Jill has reached the finals of this national competition. They do such fantastic work and are a real hub of support for the community.”
