Coca-Cola pledged £165,000 to be shared among the 2020 Great British Pub Awards Pub Heroes winners and can now reveal how the funding has helped businesses prepare for post-lockdown trade.
As part of the drinks company’s special Community Pub Fund, each winner had the chance to submit an application of up to £10,000 to put towards a business improvement or towards a community project.
The prize was funded as part of the $120m (£87.6m) global Coca-Cola system, donated to Covid-19 relief efforts in affected communities.
The Victoria in Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, took the title of Punch Pubs & Co Pub Hero thanks to its ability to rise to the challenge of supporting its community amid the pandemic with initiatives such as teaming up with a local food bank to deliver more than 12 tonnes of food for free and sourcing Easter eggs for local children.