I’ll drink to that! Kilkenny pubs to share in €14m Guinness fund
Guinness has announced a new €14m fund called ‘Raising the Bar’ to support the recovery of pubs in Kilkenny and across Ireland.
This is part of a Diageo’s global programme to support pubs and bars to welcome customers back and recover following the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Raising the Bar” will be a two-year programme available from July 2020.
The programme will be focussed on the provision of practical equipment and confidence building measures needed for outlets to reopen and operate on a safe and sustainable basis.
Guinness will consult with the on-trade as to how best to direct future funding over the two-year period.
From June 24, bar owners across all of Ireland will be able to register their interest for the “Raising the Bar” programme via www.mydiageo.com.
Bar owners will receive regular updates on best practice training and resources and be able to participate in global surveys to share insights, as they build back their businesses.
“Pubs and bars sit at the heart of every community. We have launched “Raising the Bar” as so many outlets have been impacted by this crisis and badly need help to open their doors again,” Ivan Menezes, Chief Executive of Diageo said.
“We are calling on governments around the world to provide long-term recovery packages to help the hospitality sector. These businesses play an essential role in bringing people together to socialise and celebrate – something that we have all missed so much during this terrible crisis – and sustain hundreds of millions of jobs, often providing a first foot on the employment ladder for young people.”
Through “Raising the Bar”, Diageo will provide $100m to support the recovery of major hospitality centres, including: New York, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Kampala, Sydney and beyond.
Picture: Cathal O’Gorman from the Guinness Quality Team, tests beer lines at Arthur’s Pub, Thomas Street in Dublin ahead of the reopening of the sector Pic: Julien Behal
