'Gutted' charity closes Hull's Wassand Arms pub
A PUB donated to help a charity raise funds for disabled children is being forced to close.
The Wassand Arms was donated to the Echoes Foundation in March to host fundraising events but will be shutting on Monday, November 5.
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Year of ups and downs: MP Alan Johnson was invited to officially open The Wassand Arms.
Charity founder Claire Stockton says the pub cannot compete with rival nights and there is not enough support to keep it going.
In a post on the charity's Facebook page, Claire said: "I am really sorry to inform you The Wassand will be closing.
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"I am absolutely gutted but we cannot and do not want to compete with rival nights. We haven't got enough support to stay open, with parties canceling last minute, etc, so we took the decision to protect the interests of the charity.
"I want to thank those of you who supported us from the bottom of my heart."
The Wassand Arms, off Hessle Road in west Hull, was donated to the charity in March by outgoing landlady Sue Perkins.
A celebration evening was held for the opening and a ribbon was cut by MP Alan Johnson. It was hoped the pub would bring in a few thousand pounds a month to help keep the charity going.
Claire's statement on Facebook went on to say: "I have had some brilliant nights in the Wassy and will never forget them. I have also made some good friends and met some great people.
"I want to thank all the staff who have volunteered or worked for next to nothing to try to keep us going. You mean more to me than you will ever know."
It has been a year of ups and downs for the charity, which was set up by Claire in 2008 when she failed to find adequate support for her son Finley, 6.
Just last month, the Echoes Foundation was given £25,000 after supporter and Paralympic reporter Alex Brooker won the cash for them on The Million Pound Drop.
Claire watched the programme while at a wedding and was over the moon with the amount that was won.
Catherine Simmons, 34, says the charity has offered vital support to her son Charlie, 4, who suffers from cerebral palsy.
She said: "It is a great shame that it has come to this."
The pub will go out with a bang, with a Halloween Rock Party on the last weekend.
Comments
by Redjin
Friday, October 12 2012, 11:06PM
“Halloween rock party?
Is Fat boy Tim DJ'ing? His rock nights are always awesome!”