Fishy Business at Angel on the Bridge

There’s something fishy going on at the Angel on the Bridge in Henley – but it’s all in the very good cause of raising money for Sue Ryder.

The Brakspear pub has placed a jar of fish-shaped sweets on the bar and is challenging customers to estimate the number, at £1 per guess.  Proceeds from the competition are going to Sue Ryder with the winner, who will take the jar of sweets, announced on Saturday 22 July after the Henley Pub to Club Swim.

The competition is linked to the popular river swim, which is raising money for Sue Ryder. The Angel on the Bridge is the end point of the swim, and will be hosting a post-swim party and barbecue for competitors and spectators.  It is also one of a handful of Brakspear pubs in Henley to be serving draught Two Bells, the beer specially brewed at the Bell Street Brewery to mark the swim.  Brakspear is donating 10p for every pint of Two Bells sold.

The Club to Pub Swim is in its fourth year and has grown in popularity, with an expected field of close to 700 swimmers this year.  All swimmers who finish the course will be greeted with a bottle of Two Bells, as well as a commemorative medal which doubles as a bottle opener to offer instant refreshment.

Mark Dunlop, landlord at the Angel on the Bridge, said, “There’s a lot of interest from customers in the Club to Pub Swim and Two Bells beer, so we thought there was an opportunity to raise some more money for  Sue Ryder ahead of the event.

“The fish sweets are a bit of fun and we’ve had quite a few customers guess already, so we should have a decent sum to donate to Sue Ryder by the end of the week. We’re looking forward to hosting the party for the swimmers again; they certainly seem to enjoy their beer and food all the more for the 1.5 km swim beforehand!”

The swim starts on Saturday evening, on the 7 o’ o’clock chime of St. Mary the Virgin church, with the aim of finishing it before the bells ring for 8 o’clock – hence the name of ‘Two Bells’ beer.