The Old Griffin Head in Gildersome, Leeds, has raised £2,100 for Crohn’s & Colitis UK and The Brain Tumour Charity after welcoming around 500 people to its ‘Craft Fest’ fundraiser.
The three-day event, held from Friday 31 July to Sunday 2 August, was part of Craft Fest, a summer initiative from Craft Union pubs across the UK, which sees pubs host community events and fundraisers for charities chosen by their operators. The weekend brought together regular customers, local residents and first-time visitors for live music, activities and fundraising.
Lianne Marie Kilbride, Operator at The Old Griffin Head, chose to support Crohn’s & Colitis UK as she lives with Crohn’s disease herself. Lianne also selected The Brain Tumour Charity in memory of the father of her son’s girlfriend, Grace, who sadly passed away from a brain tumour in early June, aged 54.
Of the £2,100 raised by the pub’s event, £1,500 will be donated to The Brain Tumour Charity and the remaining £600 will be donated to Crohn’s & Colitis UK. Grace has also raised £8,500 for Cancer Research UK in memory of her dad after completing the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge three times in one week, with her mum, Heather, joining her for the final walk.
Operator of The Old Griffin Head, Lianne, said: “These are two causes that are incredibly personal to me and my family, so seeing the community get behind them in such a big way meant the world. We were overwhelmed by the support throughout the weekend, and raising £2,100 is something we’re all really proud of.
“Seeing the community come together to help set up, support the event throughout and then help pack everything away afterwards was amazing. It was wonderful to see people enjoying the live music, taking part in the activities, donating to the charities and simply having a great time together. The atmosphere throughout the weekend was incredible.”
One of the standout attractions was a Battle of the Bands competition showcasing young local talent. Acoustic duo Unit and the Nibble entertained the crowd with popular songs and impressive harmonies, while four-piece youth rock band WindBride got people on their feet with an energetic set.
The winner will be chosen through a public vote on social media, which closes on Friday 7 August and the successful act will earn a paid performance slot at The Old Griffin Head.
Reflecting on the success of the pub’s Craft Fest, Lianne said: “I’m not someone who naturally enjoys taking compliments, but I’m incredibly proud that the event was such a success. The overwhelming amount of positive feedback, both in person and online, has been incredible. Hearing so many people say they’d love Griff Fest to become an annual event made every hour of planning, every late night and every long shift completely worthwhile.”