Kind-hearted landlord calls for pubs to join 'most ambitious fundraiser yet'

From sleep-outs in the beer garden in aid of homeless veterans to festivals in the car park for an animal rescue shelter – it's fair to say Tom Parol who runs The Lord Reresby pub in Thrybergh has done a fair bit of fundraising for good causes over the years.

In April last year customers at the pub on Vale Road dug deep and raised more than £4,000 for Start-A-Heart 24/7 to fund a defibrillator in the village.

Caring customers joined Tom and his young son to hunker down in the beer garden for a weekend for Help 4 Homeless veterans two years in a row, while the venue’s festival in the car park in aid of Rain Rescue raised more than £3,300.

Now landlord Tom has set himself what he describes as his most ambitious project yet – Rotherham Live Aid.

Tom said: “We do a lot at The Lord Reresby for charity but this could be my most ambitious yet!

“Rotherham Live Aid where all pubs do a charity day simultaneously on the same day for the same charity then we combine all the totals and make it one big total donation.

“I’m calling on all other pubs in the area, too. It doesn’t matter if they’re a pub company, independent, micro bar, huge pub - we just want as many pubs as possible to join forces just for one day.

“I’m holding the first meeting at my pub on the Monday, November 16 to see who wants to get involved.

“If we can get around 20 pubs, ideally more, all raising £1,000 then that would be £20,000 for the chosen charity.

“Although we are yet to choose the charity, my personal preference would be Rotherham Hospice as I think it’s relevant to everyone and has touched a lot of people's hearts.

“There’s some absolute cracking pubs around Rotherham, and I love seeing what everyone else does and the events they put on.

“With hospitality facing challenges at the minute, we all need to come together and show why pubs are the heart of every community

“So, wouldn’t it be brilliant if we could all unite for just one day?

“We pick a date in 2027, all host a charity night at the same time and raise money for our agreed local charity.

“On the night we can video call between pubs, share photos and videos and create one massive event across Rotherham — all happening at once – then combine everything raised into one big donation.

“Yes, this is ambitious — but with the right help and support, very achievable.

“And if we can pull this off, it would be absolutely amazing for the town.”