Local Swimmers Trial Henley Club to Pub Swim

Drinking a pint of Two Bells after a swim (l-r): volunteers Katia Vastiau, Ben Hargreaves and Jeremy Laming

Three local swimmers took to the Thames last weekend to celebrate the launch of Two Bells, the Brakspear ale brewed to commemorate the new Henley Club to Pub Swim. The ale is now available exclusively in the Angel on the Bridge, the finish point for the swim.

Mayor of Henley Martin Akehurst visited the pub to enjoy the first pint of Two Bells, a 3.7% ABV golden ale. He said, “Two Bells is a very quaffable ale. It’s good to see beers being brewed in Henley to support local events such as this first ever Club to Pub Swim.” The beer has been selling extremely well since launch, helped in part by the hot weather that made last weekend one of the busiest of the year for the Angel on the Bridge.

The course followed by the swimmers – Katia Vastiau, Ben Hargreaves and Henley Swim organiser Jeremy Laming – took them down the river from Marsh Lock to the Angel on the Bridge. Competitors in the event itself, on 9th August, will start at Henley Rowing Club, completing an upriver leg to Marsh Lock before turning and swimming to the pub.

The challenge is to complete the swim between the 7 o’clock evening chime of St. Mary the Virgin church, which will signal its start, and the next one at 8 o’clock – hence the name of Two Bells for the beer. A bottle of Two Bells will be given to all swimmers when they arrive at the Angel on the Bridge.

1) Enjoying a pint of Two Bells at the Angel on the Bridge (l-r): competitor Ben Hargreaves; Jeremy Laming, Henley Swim organiser; Mayor of Henley Martin Akehurst and Henley Town Councillor Will Hamilton

To date, sixty people have signed up for the Club to Pub Swim. Will Hamilton, a Henley Town Councillor, is one of thecompetitors and said, “I’m looking forward to taking part in this new event, though not sure I’ll manage to complete the 1.5 kilometre course within the hour. Happily, Brakspear have assured me that there will be a bottle of Two Bells waiting for me at the Angel on the Bridge, whenever I finish.”

Places are still available for the Club to Pub Swim at www.brakspear.co.uk/swim