Kenilworth Lions has teamed up with the Virgins and Castle pub to held boost fundraising efforts this year.

The Kenilworth Lions has had event after event cancelled in the last 18 months. Bad weather and then Covid-19 have reduced the charity's income significantly and they have been looking at creative ways to keep vital funds coming in.

The lions announced recently that they were looking forward to re-opening their furniture shop and bizarre on Saturday 17 April and they've also recently launched a 'Love a Duck' Appeal in place of the Annual Boxing Day Duck Race that was cancelled in December.

Now in the charity's latest effort to get back on track they have teamed up with Kenilworth's oldest pub, the famous Virgins and Castle.

The pub too has had its fair share of challenges since its grand opening in March last year having to close just one week into their new venture due to coronavirus.

But the new partnership offers a ray of hope and is a great example of businesses supporting charities and helping communities connect with great causes.

Following government's latest announcements, pubs, restaurants and bars are able to open for outdoor service from 12 April. For the Virgins and Castle this means that it can welcome guests into its beer garden and start serving food and drink again.

After recently being shortlisted as finalists for Pub of the Year in the inaugural Foodie Awards, the 16th century pub is keen to showcase why it's been voted in the top four pubs in the county.

Andy Lock, General Manager of the Virgins and Castle said: "We're thrilled to be able to work with fantastic local charities like the Kenilworth Lions.

"They do so much for the community - not just in fundraising, but in organising great family events and bringing people together. We hope to do the same in our pub and so to work together seemed like the perfect fit.

"We'll be helping by asking for donations from our guests who book tables in our new front beer garden. We've been working with Warwickshire council to see how we can make good use of the outdoor space outside of the pub. With the limit on trade that we're allowed to do with current government laws for hospitality, creating a new space was important to help us make the pub viable.

"Guests are welcome to leave a donation for any amount they wish and we hope that over the coming months, we'll be able to raise at least an extra £1,000 for the Kenilworth Lions and the projects they support.

Steve Luff, President of the Kenilworth Lions said: "We're really lucky in Kenilworth to have some great businesses that really do connect with the community and help make the town be the place it is.

"Over the last year we've seen some wonderful examples with Kenilworth Kindness, the Covid-19 Support Group and the community in general all pulling together.

"This is what makes Kenilworth such a great place to live and to visit. Along with our trustees, we're delighted to be working with The Virgins and Castle and I'm so pleased they've been able to weather the storm and keep going."

The Virgins & Castle will be opening its doors on Monday 12 April at 11:00am for the first time in five months. You can book an outside table and enjoy table service with their freshly prepared menu and great range of drinks.

To find out more and how to book a table and support the Kenilworth Lions, visit website the V&C website or call the pub on 01926 853 737.