Daily Star buys the beers for pub workers after ‘free drink per aim’ supply goes improper
The family-run Gedling Inn in Nottingham decided to give out free beers every time Forest scored against Brighton – but were left red-faced when the home side won 7-0
Your Daily Star has rewarded hard-working staff of a boozer that stuck to their word when a “free drink for every goal” promotion massively backfired. Spectacularly.
We’ve bought everyone a beer at Gedling Inn, in Nottingham for sticking to their guns. Landlady Beccy Webster was left red-faced – and £1,500 out of pocket – when she offered a free beer for every goal local side Forest scored on Saturday.
The problem was Nuno Espirito Santo’s side managed to bag SEVEN without reply against Brighton.
Beccy was forced to give away 300 pints due to the ‘own goal’ promotion. It meant ‘Brighton’d’ customers were able to get a fresh top-up every 13 minutes across 90 minutes as the Seagulls were dismantled by the two-time European Cup winners.
Beccy came up with the costly promotion just half an hour before the big match and stuck to her guns as the goals flew in. But never fear – he Daily Star has stepped in to buy a round for her over-worked staff.
And, we weren’t the only charitable souls, as good Samaritans were calling up from all over the globe to buy pints out of a fear the promotion could have sank the boozer.
Beccy told the Daily Star: “In the morning I was having a conversation with my sister-in-law that does all the social media and she said it is such a shame that we don’t have TNT because there are three Forest games on there in the next month.
“It was really weird because the rep had just messaged me and he had an offer to show the match,” she said.
They had the coverage on 20 minutes before kick-off and decided to put a beer offer out on social media.
Beccy added: “They obviously lost 5-0 to Bournemouth the week before. We knew Forest would come back with a bit of a bang but did not expect the result that happened.
“We thought it would be a couple of pints per person and everyone would be happy and we’ve got the word out there. But it has just gone crazy, absolutely mental.
Despite the onslaught of Nottingham Forest goals, Beccy decided to hold firm to her promise to the punters. She said: “We stuck to our word. That is what we promised so if they had of score 10, we would have served 10 – that was the offer we put out there.
And the reaction has been immense, with one Nottingham expat paying for 20 pints over the phone. Beccy said: “People have been messaging me, people have been calling thanking us.
“We’ve had people from all over the world. I’ve spoken to people from New Zealand, America, Australia, Poland, Italy. It has been absolutely crazy. We’ve had people ring up and offer to pay for pints over the phone.
“It has just been madness. I’ve had a man who used to live in Nottingham but now lives in Jersey, he rang and bought 20 pints to recuperate some of our costs – bless him.
“So many people were worried – because money is tight these days and pubs have been hit hard – a hit like that would take us under. It is a big expense for an independent pub like us. Luckily the support that we have had and the exposure that we have got from it, money can’t buy really.”
Nottingham Forest club legend John McGovern even came down to the Gedling to show support on behalf of the club. Beccy was given tickets to a Forest game, a jersey signed by McGovern with the number seven at the back and a complimentary stadium tour.
McGovern also video called Beccy’s Reds super fan dad, who had to choke back tears at the prospect of meeting his “idol”.
She said: “They sent John McGovern down which was amazing. He is one of my dad’s idols so to meet him was amazing. My dad got to meet him on Facetime because he has just started a new job. He teared up a little bit.
“He has been a season ticket holder for 50 years. So he is born and bred Nottingham. My son and daughter met him as well. He was just amazing, such a lovely man. He gave us a signed shirt with seven put on the back of it as well as tickets to go see one of the games.”
Despite the heavy losses inflicted by goal-hungry Forest Beccy said there will be more promotions – just not as “dramatic” as the last one.
She said: “It’s on everyone’s minds what’s going to happen next so we are definitely going to have to do something. I don’t think it is going to be as dramatic as free pints for every goal because I don’t think we would survive that. There will definitely be some kind of offer to support the fans.”
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.
