A GLASS has been raised to a Haddington pub which has received a top award for its work in the community.
The Victoria Inn supports various sports clubs in the town, including Haddington Athletic Football Club and Haddington Women’s Hockey Club.
Now, its efforts have been recognised at The PubAid Community Sport Hero Awards, with the Community Sport Hero for Scotland prize going to the Court Street business.
An awards ceremony, attended by landlord Craig Douglas and Murray McDonald, from The Victoria Inn, took place at the Houses of Parliament last Tuesday.
READ MORE: The Victoria Inn in East Lothian up for national award
Mr Douglas, who was previously a member of Haddington and District Community Council, said: “I was nominated for this, so it was a great honour.
“I’ve supported community sports for a long time, from kids' football and kids' rugby to kids' ice hockey, as well as women in sport, which is really important in our community.
“We’re in a small town and everyone supports us a lot.
“It’s a great honour to come to the House of Commons. It’s just fantastic.
“Win, lose or draw, we’re all winners.
“The last three to four years have been tough, so to get an award and have someone say well done and be noticed, it means a lot.”
The PubAid Community Sport Hero Award recognises pubs which support grassroots sport in their communities or brings the community together via sporting events.
The Victoria Inn was nominated by Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, to compete in the Community Sport Hero for Scotland category.
Pubs contribute over £40 million each year to community sport.
From kits to sponsorship to hosting events, the awards recognise pubs that showcase the important role pubs play to the health and wellbeing of their community.
Mr McLennan said: “The Victoria Inn is a great example of the incredible community spirit that you find throughout East Lothian.
“It is good to recognise those who help to make sport accessible to all and Craig Douglas is part of a much wider group of people who are doing their best in their local community to make this happen.
“It’s not always possible to thank everyone, but it is possible to shine a light on a local pub that is helping to make a positive impact on the community they are so proud to be part of.”
READ MORE: New life to be breathed back into Haddington's Victoria Inn
Des O’Flanagan, co-founder of PubAid, praised the various businesses recognised at the awards.
He said: “The Community Pub Hero Awards highlight all the wonderful and invaluable work publicans do for their local communities and it’s heart-warming that pubs raise so much money for local and national charities.
“The standard of entry this year has been extremely high, as many pubs continue to raise the bar when it comes to supporting their community, so the Victoria Inn should be extremely proud of what they have achieved to be crowned the winner.”
Share