SINCE the Red Lion Pub in Handbridge re-opened under new management at Christmas 2009, its customers have been regularly donating to its resident charity, Parkinson’s UK.
Collection boxes are kept on the bar and the charity also benefits from the proceeds of its popular quiz night every Thursday.
More than £1,000 has been given to the local branch of Parkinson’s UK in this way over the past 18 months.
The most recent collection box to be opened, however, surpassed all expectations – more than £190 had been crammed into the one small container.
Landlord Andy Smyth said: “I could tell it was heavy but I was staggered when I found out just how much was in it.”
Andy, who previously ran the Little Oak and Restaurant Locus, added: “In all my years in the trade, I cannot recall finding so much money in a counter top box.”
Secretary of the Chester branch of Parkinson’s UK, Colin Cheesman, said: “We depend entirely on voluntary donations and fundraising to finance our work for people with Parkinson’s, their families and carers.
“We are really lucky to have great support from the community in Chester and the Red Lion is a great example of that.”
