Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford promote Brewing Good Cheer 2019

Eamonn & Ruth team up to launch campaign to host 180 lunches for vulnerable people over the festive season.

“Pubs have always been a meeting point for our family, and it was great to host this lunch alongside Ruth, to bring a bit of festive spirit to the community. It was great fun to surprise the guests as the big man himself – Santa! Spreading love and cheer is what this time of year is all about and what better place to do it than the pub.” – Eamonn Holmes

TV favourites Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford are fronting a campaign to bring good cheer and community spirit to pubs across the country this festive season, as part of Heineken’s mission to help raise awareness of the important role pubs play in bringing communities together.

Heineken is giving a Christmas treat to hundreds of charities up and down the country by putting on over 180 events during the festive period for people who don’t often get the change to enjoy their local.

The much-loved married couple, Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford – who host their own consumer series and documentaries on Channel 5 as well as being the regular This Morning Summer and Friday hosts on ITV – surprised guests from community foodbank St Saviour’s Sunbury and care home charity Langley Haven by dressing up as Santa and Mrs Claus to host a pub lunch for both charities at The Red Lion pub in Shepperton.

Volunteers from the foodbank, alongside members of the local community who have called on the services of the foodbank in the past, attended the lunch with residents and carers from Langley Haven, a care home supported by the community and volunteers.

The pub treated guests to a three-course lunch and drinks in a room full of laughs, Christmas carols and great conversation with 59-year-old Ruth and recently turned 60 Eamonn. Brewing Good Cheer was launched in 2016 and has helped bring together thousands of people from all walks of life in the last four years to network and make new friends over a festive lunch at their local pub.

Headquartered in Edinburgh, Heineken is the UK’s leading pub, cider and beer business. The company owns around 2,700 pubs as part of its Star Pubs & Bars business and employs around 2,200 people.

“I love this time of year and so it was a real privilege for Eamonn and I to team up with Heineken to launch its annual Brewing Good Cheer campaign. This campaign is all about the importance of community spirit and the vital role pubs play in bringing people together, and we couldn’t agree more! Over the past few years these lunches have helped bring thousands of people together, in their local pub, which for many is their local community.” – Ruth Langsford