A popular Paisley pub is going to forego an awards night ceremony where they were nominated because of a charge to attend the prize-giving ceremony.
And instead of paying nearly £1,600 for the privilege, the pub is going to raise money for charity instead.
The Old Swan Inn’s owner Jacqueline McCaig said that they would be giving the Molson Corrs Entertainment and Hospitality Awards a miss over the £1,595 table fee. In exchange for the fee, the pub is given a three-course meal for ten people at the awards ceremony.
“You’re technically paying for your own award,” said Jacqueline.
She said that such a big fee would be better put to good use and decided that they would raise the same amount for Renfrewshire food banks.
The Old Swan Inn had been nominated in three categories: Best Outdoor Area, Best Independent Bar in the West, and Best Pub.
While expressing her pride at being nominated, Jacqueline said that punters know the value of her pub and that they didn’t need the recognition of competitions, of which she said there had been a proliferation in recent years.
“There’s companies just flinging awards out and giving them to people so they can make money.
“We’ve gone up for other awards before and I don’t feel that they’ve done the job properly with the judging.
“For the Outdoor Area one I just had to put in a submission about all the things we do in the garden and they’ve not even asked for a picture or anything, so they don’t even know what it looks like and they’re judging us on that. I don’t think it’s a true reflection of how you run your business.”
The Smithhill Street pub has been donating to food banks in the area for a number of years — most recently with a £500 donation to Renfrewshire Foodbank in December — and the pub often runs raffles and asks customers for any money they can spare to help the food bank.
Jacqueline added: “People are just crying out for help at the moment with the cost of everything rising. We’re feeling the pinch and we’re a business.”
Each member of staff is going to donate a bottle of alcohol to a hamper, which will be raffled off to customers, who will also have a chance to win £100.
The proceeds from the raffle will go towards Renfrewshire Foodbank.
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