Two Ripon pub owners have been named the winners of a national community award.
Sara and Kelly Hirst, operators of the Black Swan, won in the ‘Best Community Pub Operator’ category at Craft Union Pub Company’s annual Operator Awards.
This award is in recognition of the operators who have demonstrated a fantastic commitment to supporting and bringing their local community together.
Judges praised Sara and Kelly for taking the Black Swan, which was already an established local venue, to a new level of popularity within the community in the past 12 months.
From creating a weekly walking group that featured on ITV’s Lorraine, to founding Ripon Pride, now a council-backed annual festival, Sara and Kelly are always looking for ways to bring people together.
Their creativity and can-do spirit mean they never miss a chance to support the community – even creating a brilliant “floating pub” parade float in under a week to keep a cherished local tradition going.
Pub Operators Sara and Kelly said:
“We’re over the moon to receive this award. The Black Swan and the Ripon community has always been our passion, and to see our hard work recognised at this level is amazing.
“We’re proud to serve our local community, and it’s so rewarding to know our hard work over the last year has made a huge difference for our customers, team, and community and we can’t wait to keep on supporting our local area for years to come.”
The Black Swan boasts a fun and varied weekly events calendar designed to connect people of all ages – housing the local darts and dominoes teams, running regular raffles, weekly music nights with live bands and DJs, poker nights, and showing big sporting events.
Their fundraising efforts are equally inspiring. From raising an incredible £48,000 to support a local teenage girl who tragically lost her family in a car accident, to collecting £3,800 for a Ripon child undergoing cancer treatment, and continually supporting the local primary school’s breakfast club, they go above and beyond for people in their community.
Beyond fundraising, they’ve decorated a local veteran’s home with donated furniture to help him get back on his feet, and are the first to help out whenever local people need support.
Frazer Grimbleby, Craft Union Managing Director, said:
“Sara and Kelly’s dedication to their community is nothing short of outstanding.
“They’ve built the Black Swan into a place where people come together, feel supported, and take pride in their local.
“Their passion and connection to their community truly reflect the spirit of what Craft Union stands for.”
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