The King s Arms in Bexleyheath, featured in Heineken s Open Arms report on pubs in the UK and in lockdown. A local Bexley pub has been hailed for its brilliant community impact and cited as a shining example of a pub playing a positive role in its area. Pete Marshall of The King’s Arms has been praised for going above and beyond over the last Covid-hit year, from Sunday roasts for hospital staff, Mother’s Day food for isolating mothers to fundraising virtual quizzes. A new national report has stressed the importance of pubs such as this Bexley local have in society, also giving a stark reminder of the impact of the closure of pubs is having.
Open arms: Why pubs are key in the fight against loneliness
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A new report has confirmed just how important the Great British pub is in the fight against loneliness, as brewery Heineken takes to calling vulnerable people to relieve solitude in place of sharing a pint.
After almost a year of restrictions, regional and national lockdowns, and tiers, people across the UK have been affected physically, economically and mentally due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with loneliness being a huge concern across communities.
The usual places to meet, socialise and connect with people have been removed. One of the key places for millions of Britons to do so in their ‘normal’ day to day life is the Great British pub. In fact, as a result of the pandemic more than 300 pubs have been permanently closed, and many more fear the same fate with no end in sight for the national lockdown.