Fans of The Celebrity Traitors star Joe Lycett can snag a free drink this Friday, 16 October, after the comedian put money behind the bar at 30 pubs across the UK.
Aiming to support local venues hit by rising closure rates, Lycett revealed the nationwide round during his pub-themed comedy series Live From The Lycett Arms. The venues benefiting from his generosity span the country, including several across London—such as The Miller in London Bridge, Clerkenwell’s The Old Ivy, and the Signature Brew taproom in Haggerston—alongside regional favourites including The Old Monkey in Manchester, The Hallamshire House in Sheffield, Northampton’s The Black Prince, and The Unicorn in Oxfordshire.
The TV presenter highlighted the stark reality facing the hospitality sector when announcing the initiative:
“I do want to talk about pub closures, it’s a serious problem, up and down the UK. British pubs are closing at a rate of two a day and it’s very sad … Keeping money in the local economy is important.”
Lycett has been broadcasting the Channel 4 series from a fictional pop-up venue built in East London, which required him to go through the genuine licensing process to serve alcohol on set.
Addressing the administrative hurdle with his signature wit, Lycett shared in a statement:
“I’ve always wanted to run a pub that only exists for an hour a week, for the purposes of a TV concept, and I’m thrilled beyond words to embark on the extended process of applying for a license to sell and serve alcohol.
“Filling in government-mandated paperwork has always been a passion of mine, and I only hope that at some point it involves the presentation of at least one form of photographic ID.
“Pretty much the only disappointment is that in addition to this enthralling form-filling process, I will also have to make a television series, as this is apparently the only way to make the whole tax dodge work.
“Nevertheless, I will meet my obligations to sit in front of a camera welcoming celebrities into the pub for great conversations and top comedy, it says here, and generally creating an unmissable event that will brighten your Friday evenings for six weeks.
“Those are all the words that I have been requested to say. Now I can return my attention to figuring out how to get round being locked out of Gov.uk.”
Catch up with Live from the Lycett Arms now on Channel 4.