Drinkers raise a pint to Joe Lycett’s £100 bar tab

Joe Lycett gave Hallamshire House in Sheffield a £100 bar tab, drawing dozens of people who queued for a free pint after the pub opened on Friday. The gesture was part of his effort to show support for local pubs, which serve as community spaces as well as places to drink.

The pub was one of 30 across the UK selected after Lycett invited viewers of his Channel 4 show to recommend their favourite pubs. Thornbridge Brewery, which operates Hallamshire House, added another £100 to the tab. Customers included local students and people who had come across the offer by chance; the pub’s manager said the hospitality industry was under pressure and pubs were closing around the country.