Wandsworth pub The Pig & Whistle is teaming up with Namibian beer brand Windhoek Lager for the annual charity Piggy Race Night on August 3.
Proceeds raised from a pre-race charity pig auction are being donated in aid of the African brewery’s campaign to raise £5,000 for Save The Rhino International.
The racing involves toy battery-operated pigs, which are purchased and named by punters pre-race. Owners of the pigs win a £15 bar tab and other guests can then bet on pigs via the tote during the night.
Following the initial five races, the special fundraising part of the evening will begin. First, a charity pig auction will be held with customers bidding for the right to own one of the six pigs for the final race. These six will then race off, with the owner of the winning pig receiving the night’s star prize.
The star prize has many elements, including the winner’s height in Windhoek lager, a helicopter tour, Camden brewery beer and dinner for two at the Pig & Whistle, as well as much more.
Keris DeVilliers, landlord of the Pig & Whistle, said: “Our pig racing evening is a huge night of fun for our customers, so it’s great to be linking up with Windhoek Lager to make it a night to remember and raise money in aid of Save The Rhino International.
Amazing year
“We’ve had an amazing year after being selected as finalists for the prestigious BII licensee of the year award, so it’s great to be able to put something back to an area of conservation we’re both very passionate about.”
Antonio Simoes, Windhoek export manager, who is travelling over to attend the event, said: “We can’t thank Keris and Lee enough for choosing to help us with our campaign to raise £5,000 in aid of Save the Rhino international.
“The night is definitely not something I have seen before in Namibia, so myself and head brewer Christian Müller can’t wait to arrive in the UK and get involved in what I’m sure will be a lot of fun.”
The Pig & Whistle joins Brighton Rocks in becoming the first two on-trade outlets to join Windhoek Lager’s campaign.
The #PureBeer brand has always supported rhino conservation in Namibia, previously funding a Piper Cub plane to aid the fight against rhino poaching. It kicked off the UK campaign in May with a Windhoek Lager team member running the Hackney Half Marathon in a rhino outfit, raising £750.
Brighton Rocks Bar is running a regular Windhoek Wednesday live music night until October, with 50p from each bottle of Windhoek Lager purchased being donated to the cause.
• For further information on the Pig & Whistle fundraising event, or to support it, visit: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/KerisandLeeDeVilliers
