Jimmy Smith the boss of Two Brewers in Clapham receives community accolades in recognition of his support of LGBT+ communities in London and Brighton and is up for a 2017 award hat trick adding Great British Best Managed Pub to the list of honours.
Having managed almost every prestigious LGBT+ gay cabaret bar over the last three decades, it was a surprise only to the humble man himself when he was called out at the Pride annual dinner to be commemorated for his outstanding support of the LGBT+ communities in London over 25 years.
Pride London Co-Chair Michael Salter-Church MBE presented Jimmy with the honour a week after receiving the Lambeth Coat of Arms from the Mayoress of Lambeth, on the 25th anniversary day of Jimmy joining his current employers Stonegate Pub Company (SPC).
Jimmy said: “It was the most bizarre experience.”
“I was sat at the event as I do every year, listening to a narrative on this years winner and about five minutes in, it dawned on me that they might be talking about me!”
Also recognising Jimmy’s achievements, SPC had entered the Two Brewers into the Great British Pub Awards for Best Managed Pub, and last week got the news that they had been shortlisted in the final six with the chance of taking the title after a final round of judging in August.
“Talk about an insane two weeks!” added Jimmy.
In the last two weeks alone, with the help of his customers, Jimmy has raised almost £10,000 for Pride London, Grenfell Tower victims and other local charities, bringing the total raised for good causes this year to £25,000, adding to the thousands raised in previous years.
The support isn’t just fundraising with Jimmy chief organiser and advisor to anyone who asks for his support including the Kings Cross Steelers, founded in 1995 as the first ever gay inclusive rugby union club; Best Bar None – last year a winner in recognition for his contribution to a safe late night economy; and London Titans Football Club, one of the biggest and most successful LGBT+ football teams in the United Kingdom.
If Jimmy does beat all other UK pubs to take Best Managed Pub, the one thing that is guaranteed is dancing in the streets, a huge amount of laughter, and sensational cabaret with every member of the London LGBT+ community celebrating the achievements of this popular manager who was entrusted with the responsibility and prestige of opening Charles Street Bar and Envy Nightclub in Brighton, in January 2000 after a multi million pound renovation.
The Great British Pub awards will be presented on September 7 at the London Hilton on Park Lane in London.