A beer festival at the Canalhouse, Nottingham, will raise money for a memorial to Notts' Victoria Cross recipients.

IF you're going to raise a jar to a cause, you'd struggle to find a better one than this. A campaign is now under way for a Nottingham Castle grounds memorial to Victoria Cross recipients from Notts.

And a city centre pub is getting involved in the best way a pub can – by selling some beer.

Cheers Blue Monkey brewery owner John Hickling. The brewery has donated a cask of ale.
Memorial campaign From left, Simon Mace, deputy manager of the Canalhouse, Pete Higton RAF Wittering, Chris Stewart, British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association, Tony Higton, Ron Booth, and Ben Percival of Craftsmen in Stone.

The Canalhouse, Canal Street, hosts its Victoria Cross beer festival from Thursday.

More than 25 military-themed beers will be available through the weekend. An exhibit has also been set up along one wall of the pub with photos and biographies of all 20 Notts' Victoria Cross recipients.

"There's so much planning gone into it," said Canalhouse deputy manager Simon Mace. "There aren't many causes more worthy."

The event came about through the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Victoria Cross committee's work with the castle. When fund-raising came up, the Canalhouse was mooted as a place with a track record of supporting good causes.

Canalhouse manager Yvette Storey didn't need much convincing to green light what she says is the pub's largest ever themed event.

Once the Castle Rock pub put the word out, other breweries' offers began flooding in. Ilkeston-based Blue Monkey donated a full cask of ale all the proceeds from which will go to the fund. Others donated goods and merchandise to be raffled off.

Among the military-themed beers will be Barnes Wallis Bitter, Land of Hop and Glory, Lancaster Bomber and Legion Ale. And Spitfire. Obviously.

Entertainment at the festival includes comedy on Thursday and Friday and music from Nimming Ned on Saturday.

"The event and the entertainment is free," Yvette said. "The beers are not."

Yvette said she's enjoyed working with the memorial fund organisers, a group that includes several men with military backgrounds. The committee leading the memorial campaign includes Chris Stewart of the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association and Sgt Pete Higton, a serving airman from RAF Wittering-based 20 Squadron.

"It's nice to be a part of it," Sgt Higton said. "To recognise the men who've done what they've done."

The plan to honour all 20 Notts VC recipients began three years ago, said Tony Higton, chairman of the VC appeal.

"Ron Booth obtained a memorial for John Caffrey VC and I obtained a memorial for Robert Humpston VC and Charles Ernest Garforth VC," he said.

"We decided to band together and, with some dedicated friends, our committee was formed."

Since then representatives from the castle, the city council, Rushcliffe Borough Council and the London-based George Cross and Victoria Cross Society have all got involved.

And Nottingham's largest brewery and one of its most popular pubs. They're all working towards something that will be a lasting monument to sacrifice.

Tony said: "Our planned memorial, of rough-hewn granite, polished and engraved on one side, will be a worthy statement that our heroes will be remembered.

"I'm delighted the Canalhouse has organised the beer festival."

The Victoria Cross beer festival runs from Thursday, November 5 to Sunday, November 8 at the Canalhouse, 48-52 Canal Street. It will also feature music, comedy and a raffle.