Guinness parent company Diageo has announced a €14 million fund called "Raising the Bar" to support the recovery of pubs across the island of Ireland.
Through "Raising the Bar", which will be a two-year programme available from July 2020, Diageo will provide $100 million to support the recovery of a number of major hospitality centres, including Dublin, Belfast, London, Edinburgh, New York, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Kampala and Sydney.
In Ireland, the "Raising the Bar" programme will be focussed on the provision of practical equipment and confidence building measures. Guinness will consult with the on-trade about how to best direct future funding over the two-year period.
"At The Heart Of Every Community"
Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes stated, "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.
"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."
"Commitment To The Future Of The Local Pub In Ireland"
Meanwhile, Diageo Ireland managing director Oliver Loomes commented, "The hospitality sector in Ireland requires long-term investment and support to get back up and running. Not only has the financial impact to their business been significant, but they have missed their place at the centre of Ireland’s social fabric. Through this €14 million 'Raising the Bar' Fund, our ambition is to support pubs in Ireland in welcoming back customers in the safest possible way, when they are ready to do so.
"It is more important than ever to work with our partners to create a safe and sustainable night time economy together. This fund is our commitment to the future of the local pub in Ireland. It will also be essential for the authorities on this island to work together with our industry to build both a safe and a sustainable hospitality and bar sector."
Pub and bar owners can register their interest for the "Raising the Bar" programme via www.mydiageo.com.
© 2020 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
