Marston’s and The Royal British Legion have partnered to create poppy-themed glasses to raise vital funds for veterans during the 2024 Poppy Appeal.
From 26 October, pint and half-pint glasses will be available to purchase from 1,175 Marston’s pubs across the UK, including 15 located in and around the Oxfordshire area.
Pint glasses will cost £2.50 and half-pint ones will cost £2.00, with 100% of the profits going to The Royal British Legion. Glasses will be available to purchase as both empty and with drinks to be enjoyed in the pub before taking them home.
The poppy glasses are just one part of Marston’s month to remember, with pubs running awareness and fundraising events up and down the country, including everything from community breakfasts to live music to remember our veterans past and present. Traditional, pin-on poppies will also be available to purchase.
The Royal British Legion is the country’s largest Armed Forces charity, with over 180,000 members. Since 1921, the charity has been dedicated to supporting serving and ex-serving veterans, as well as the wider Armed Forces community, including dependants and carers.
Each year, the Poppy Appeal is launched to raise funds for The Royal British Legion ahead of Remembrance Sunday, with donations being used to provide vital support to the community.
2023 saw a 35% increase in the number of households requesting assistance, which led to The Royal British Legion supporting 27,000 people and awarding more than £18 million worth of grants to individuals in need.
Marston’s is dedicated to supporting the veteran community, and in February 2024, it re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant, symbolising a continued commitment to supporting veterans and their families through employment opportunities. Several Marston’s pubs are currently being run or staffed by ex-serving veterans.
Jared Sedgwick, Director of Operations from Marston’s, said: “Brits have been known to take glasses home with them from the pub, but this time we’re encouraging it!
“We’re so proud to be working in partnership with The Royal British Legion to give our customers another way to raise awareness and crucial funds for veterans, who are such a large part of the Marson’s community. We want to welcome everyone to their local pub for what will be a month to remember, and join us in saying cheers to our heroes.”
Ben France, Head of Corporate Partnerships from The Royal British Legion, said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Marston’s to support Poppy Appeal this year and beyond. The fundraising taking place across their network of pubs will help transform the lives of those in need across our Armed Forces community.”
Participating pubs in and around Oxfordshire:
- Cow & Creek, 12 New Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 1LT
- Seacourt Bridge, 78 West Way, Oxford, OX2 9JU
- Corner House, Headington, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX3 7JF
- Wolvercote, 130 Godstow Road, Wolvercote, Oxford, OX2 8PG
- Ladygrove, Cow Lane, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 7SZ
- Station Garden, 2 Gentian Mews, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 6GR
- Bure Farm, Bure Park, Bicester, Oxfordshire, OX26 3HA
- Bull Inn, Streatley, Reading, Berkshire, RG8 9JJ
- Chequered Flag, Lark Rise, Brackley, Northamptonshire, NN13 6JR
- College Farm, Watchfield, Swindon, Oxfordshire, SN6 8TQ
- Paisley Pear, Northampton Road, Brackley, Northamptonshire, NN13 5FH
- Hanwell Arms, Banbury, Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire, OX16 1ER
- Griffin Inn, Culworth Road, Chipping Warden, Banbury, Northamptonshire, OX17 1LB
- Brave Old Oak, Watling Street, Towcester, Northamptonshire, NN12 6BT
- Navigation at Stoke Bruerne, Stoke Bruerne, Towcester, Northamptonshire, NN12 7SY
