Village pub landlady - and pet dog Gladys - hailed community heroines

A pub landlady and her pet bulldog are being hailed as community champions after pulling out all the stops to help a local village’s residents during lockdown.
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Vanda Pera has gone above and beyond in supporting her local community since the pandemic began by turning her pub - The Crown Inn in Capel - into a community food hub for the village.

And Vanda - along with bulldog Gladys - have proved a welcome sight in the village as they delivered takeaway meals to villagers by bike.

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And that’s not all: Vanda also hosted Tuesday fundraising quizzes, Thursday virtual gin tastings and virtual Friday night pub get-togethers.

Vanda Pera and GladysVanda Pera and Gladys
Vanda Pera and Gladys

And to bring a smile to people’s faces and keep community spirit alive, Vanda also posted a daily humorous blog from Gladys,

She also let the pub carpark be used by pizza and Chinese delivery vans - and created a silver surfers menu for the elderly and delivered takeaways on her bicycle five days a week to those shielding.

“Loneliness and isolation have affected so many these last 12 months exacerbated by the closure of pubs,” she said.

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Pubs like The Crown Inn are much more than places to have a pint and a meal, they’re hubs of their communities and a lifeline for many, providing somewhere for people to enjoy what might be their only social interaction for the day or even week.

Vanda  Pera and Gladys on their bikeVanda  Pera and Gladys on their bike
Vanda Pera and Gladys on their bike

“It’s why it has been so important for us to keep the community spirit alive and support residents during this challenging time.

“A virtual community is better than none, but I for one can’t wait to open the doors and welcome customers back into the Crown Inn again as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Vanda spoke out after a new report launched today revealed the important role pubs play in communities and on people’s wellbeing.

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The Open Arms report was produced by Loughborough University for The Campaign to End Loneliness and in collaboration with brewers Heineken.

The report’s findings are a stark reminder of the impact that the closure of pubs is currently having on the socially isolated. And its authors highlight that the pandemic increases the relevance of protecting vital social connections in communities.

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