Brews & Crews: RNLI volunteers at our pubs
O ur teams are built around people with passion, and we’re lucky to have a number of RNLI volunteers within our pub teams supporting the charity with their life-saving cause.
Karl Madge from The Royal Castle in Dartmouth a prime example of how being part of the charity and the businesses’ proximity to the coastline are intrinsically linked, as Karl recently rescued someone from the water just outside of the pub as his shift as a sous chef finished.
Karl, who was born and raised in Dartmouth, has been a member of the RNLI for five years and working in our pubs for three. He said: “I was persuaded to join the RNLI by a couple of friends but as I worked full time, I didn’t think I could commit the time. I soon got the bug and started as shore crew before being offered a position of inshore lifeboat crew.
“It’s a close-knit community in Dartmouth, so for me it’s giving something back in a way that’s purposeful. It gets you out and about too.”
Karl often gets paged whilst working in the kitchen at The Royal Castle, with his manager and team supporting him to head out on calls when he can.
“My training sessions are always accounted for in work time and if my pager goes off, I make an informed decision about whether I can commit and leave the kitchen to help,” Karl said.
“75 per cent of time you’ll see a white blur going down the stairs of the pub running off to the lifeboat station.
“Being part of the RNLI is rewarding. It’s the appreciation which is nice too. Last year we helped a French yachtsman get back to safety after his yacht had broken down in the night.
“In broken English he thanked us and handed us a big camembert and a box of French beer. That’s really nice, as well as when people come back to say thank you or a card comes in the post. We want everyone to get back to land safe and unharmed, that’s the main thing.”
Join us for our RNLI supper club this September
To commemorate the RNLI’s 200th anniversary, we’re hosting a range of special supper clubs across our pub estate. An evening of great food and drink, celebrating local seafood, beers and wines, all whilst raising essential funds to support this life-saving cause – book with us this September for a memorable night.
*Tickets are priced at £60pp, which includes a 20% donation to the RNLI along with all food and drink listed.
Monday 23rd September
Harbour Inn, Porthleven
Tuesday 24th September
Old Custom House, Padstow
Victoria Inn, Salcombe
Wednesday 25th September
Lifeboat Inn, St Ives
Mill on the Exe, Exeter
Hare & Hounds, Bath
Fort Inn, Newquay
Rising Sun, St Mawes
Thursday 26th September
Old Success, Sennen Cove
Chain Locker, Falmouth
Havener’s, Fowey
Waterfront, Plymouth