Three city centre businesses have teamed up with Britvic this Christmas enabling customers to support a Chester-based homeless charity every time they buy a bottle of R Whites lemonade.

The soft drinks giant recently launched a traditional range of lemonade flavours in retro-style bottles.

And Cruise nightclub, who stock the fizzy drink, saw an opportunity to team up with Britvic because the founders of R Whites, Robert and Mary White, supported the homeless from their business which started selling lemonade from a barrow in south London in 1845.

Britvic was persuaded to support an appeal by the Share Shop in Northgate Street which is raising funds to buy a house in Chester where a number of homeless people will be accommodated until they get back on their feet.

The Chester ShareShop

For every £2.80 bottle of traditional R Whites sold in Cruise, sister business Gin Rickey’s and nearby Züger’s coffee shop, the soft drinks company will donate 50p towards the Buy-a-Brick appeal up until the New Year. Every 50p buys half a brick.

Charity co-founder Adam Dandy said: “Our intention is to go back to Britvic and say it was a massive success, would you be interested in running it across some other pubs and clubs across the country?”

The Share Shop has been in the news after the cafe element was closed down for December on police advice following a fight outside. Previously homeless people used to be able to visit and enjoy hot drinks paid for by members of the public but for the time being the shop is concentrating on raising money by selling clothes.

Adam continued: “With the ups and downs that the Share Shop’s had over the past three months and the negative publicity, this is really a fantastic story to put some positivity back around the Share Shop. Since the cafe shop has temporarily closed down we’ve had a tremendous response from other local homeless charities to reinstate a day centre.”

Cruise nightclub in St John Street, Chester

Lenny Cunningham is manager of Cruise which has raised more than £50,000 for charity since opening in 2008.

He said: “I think it’s great because it’s a local charity and the money is physically going into a brick. This time of year it’s really cold so our thoughts are with those who are struggling to survive on the streets.”

Also supporting the initiative are Lesley Helbling from Züger’s and Alan Portlock, general manager of Gin Rickey’s.

Dan Tissiman, an activation manager for Britvic, said: “I think it’s a great cause and appropriate at this time of year with it being Christmas.”