Prince William has been visiting a lot of pubs in recent years. He visits pubs as work events and it’s like his backdoor way of drinking “on the job.” In recent months, he’s also been making some false claims about his background, repeatedly saying that he “grew up in pubs.” He did not. He grew up in Kensington Palace, Highgrove and Eton. He didn’t grow up in pubs, he just spent a good deal of his late teens and 20s absolutely hammered. There’s a difference! Anyway, William has been trying to make “pub advocate” into his cause du jour, and now he’s donated £1,000 of his slumlord money to “save” a Wiltshire pub.

The Prince of Wales described British pubs as a “lifeline” as he made a private donation to save a Somerset local. Prince William gave £1,000 to a campaign group trying to save the Somerset Arms in Semington, Wiltshire, which has been closed for three years and is on the market.

In a letter sent to the group, the 44-year-old described rural pubs as a “lifeline” to communities, stating: “Our pubs have long held a unique place at the heart of British life. They are not simply places of hospitality, but vital spaces that bring people together, foster a sense of belonging and support the well-being of local communities. In rural areas, they can be a lifeline, helping to combat isolation and sustain local identity. I am very keen to support the role that pubs play, not only as businesses, but as community hubs that contribute so much to the social fabric of our nation.”

His latest intervention comes after he threw his support behind saving Britain’s pubs while on an engagement at a local in Peckham, south-east London, earlier this month. The Telegraph has been campaigning to save pubs amid mounting cost pressures as landlords warn that rising taxes and bills threaten their future.

In his letter to the Semington Community Benefit Society, which is trying to raise the £395,000 needed to buy the Somerset Arms, the Prince said that he looked forward to “coming down to pull a pint and celebrate your success”.

Andy Cobley, the vice chairman of the group, said it was “over the moon” about the royal support. “We are incredibly excited and stunned,” he said. “It is brilliant His Royal Highness can recognise what is going on in these small villages and help us out. It’s fantastic.”

The group has raised almost £195,000 in pledges, as well as £4,000 through individual donations.

[From The Telegraph]

With World Cup tourists in America right now, Americans and Europeans are learning about the cultural differences between alcohol consumption, pub/bar cultures, partying and money too. Many Europeans can’t believe the (relatively) low prices and many Americans can’t believe how Scottish people have managed to consume all of the beer and liquor in Boston. Europeans can’t believe the widespread access to alcohol in America too – I mean, we sell beer and wine at pharmacies in some states, which seems to blow their minds. All of this to say, I get why pubs are considered community hubs in the UK, but I’m astounded at how little it costs to buy and operate (?) a pub in the UK. £395,000 to buy a pub which has been standing empty for years? And William only donated £1,000???

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.