A south London-based pub group has celebrated its 195th anniversary with events across the capital.
Young’s was first founded in 1831 when Charles Young and Anthony Bainbridge bought what was then the Ram Brewery in Wandsworth. The business has since grown into a pub group with more than 200 venues.
Young’s no longer brews in Wandsworth, but the company still has a strong connection with the area. Its headquarters are based on Garratt Lane, not far from the site where its story began almost two centuries ago and a stone’s throw from three original Young’s pubs.
The celebrations on 17 September, promoted by the company as “Young’s Day”, included historic symbols of the brewery’s past returning to pubs across the company.
The events also raised money for Wooden Spoon, a rugby charity that supports children and young people living with disabilities through projects across the UK and Ireland.
The charity’s head office is based in Wandsworth and a number of its key initiatives take place in the area.
Matt Mallinder from Wooden Spoon said the charity partners with Young’s by providing material, ideas and online fundraising platforms.
He said: “The partnership has been going for the past four years, with their pubs keen to give back to the communities where they are based.
“They have raised to date £700,000, which is invaluable to us in supporting projects. I’m doing a 23-mile hike in a couple of weeks with their Alexandra pub.”
Another initiative supported by money raised by Young’s is “Pass the Plate”, a breakfast club helps schools and food banks in Wandsworth and Brixton.
The partnership has also supported Oasis Play, which provides innovative and inclusive outdoor play and learning opportunities for disabled and non-disabled children in nearby Stockwell.
The projects funded range from playgrounds and specialist sports equipment to alternative out-of-school education programmes and sporting opportunities for children who, through disability, are excluded from mainstream sports.
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