Joe Lycett puts £1000 behind the bar at Hanwell’s The Dodo
The comedian is treating customers to a drink at the independent micropub this Friday, as part of a nationwide initiative to encourage people to support their local pubs.
Hanwell’s The Dodo Micropub is set for a little extra attention this Friday, 16 October, after comedian Joe Lycett selected it as one of 30 pubs across the UK to receive a £100 bar tab.
The initiative was announced on his Channel 4 show, The Lycett Arms, which celebrates British pub culture and encourages people to get out and support their local establishments.
For Lucy Do, who runs The Dodo, the news came as a surprise. She had been contacted by the production team to provide a photograph for a shout-out segment in the show’s final episode, but had no idea that the pub would also be included in Joe’s generous gesture.
The £100 tab will be available from 6.30pm on Friday, with customers asked to request “Joe Lycett’s tab” when ordering. The instruction is to provide one drink per customer, allowing as many people as possible to take part while the money lasts.
We caught up with Lucy to find out what the recognition means for The Dodo, why supporting independent pubs matters and what she would say to anyone thinking of visiting for the first time.
How did you find out that The Dodo had been selected, and what was your reaction?
“I had a message from the production team at The Lycett Arms asking me to send over a photo for a shout-out segment they were doing for the final episode. I gathered some of the Hanwell Massive who were available at the last minute, grabbed a quick shot and sent it over, hopeful we made the cut. I didn't actually know about the £100 bar tab on Joe Lycett until the TV show aired, though. That was a welcome and pleasant surprise!”
Do you know how the initiative will work on Friday? Has Joe Lycett’s team been in touch yet with details about how much money will be available and how customers can claim a drink?
“It's a £100 bar tab, available from 6.30pm. People have to ask for ‘Joe Lycett's tab’. Under instruction to give a drink per customer so as many people can get involved as possible.”
What do you think it means to have an independent Hanwell micropub included in a national initiative like this?
“It's a real honour to have been selected for this! There are definitely days we could be busier (the experience of all pubs at the moment), so to have the weight of a TV show, Joe Lycett and his team behind us for a brief period of spotlight is very much appreciated. Definitely very much on board with the whole message behind The Lycett Arms, which is to get people out supporting their independent local pubs!”
How important is the local community to The Dodo, and what difference does it make when people choose to spend their money in independent pubs rather than elsewhere?
“Without the continued support of the Hanwell Massive, this business simply wouldn't exist! When people choose to spend their money in indie, small businesses, that is having a direct impact on real people - independent producers are supported, local people are employed, patrons are combating loneliness and isolation together. A sense of community is being curated or preserved in a good old-fashioned human connection way. Something you just don't get in a bigger, more corporate pub where they only really care about margins and the owners probably couldn't reel off the names of patrons at the drop of a hat.”
Running an independent pub has its challenges. What are the biggest pressures you’re facing at the moment, and how much can initiatives like this help?
“The biggest pressure is the ever-increasing cost of running a business! Running costs have gone up exponentially. I have no control over that and it will be the death of many small businesses, unfortunately. It's a vicious cycle that everyone's in. Your average person has less spare cash than ever, so the joyous luxury of going out is an easy one to drop when we've all been conditioned to enjoy the comfort of home (pandemic legacy).
“Any press or initiatives like this keep reminding people that if you want independents to survive, you've got to get out and support them with your presence when you can. As hard as I try with my marketing reach (which I'd like to think I'm quite good at), the reach of Joe Lycett and Channel 4 is far superior for raising awareness that we even exist! A lovely way to use their platform.”
What would you say to people in Hanwell and the wider Ealing area who might be tempted to visit The Dodo for the first time this Friday?
“If you've ever thought about visiting The Dodo - do it! Not everyone is going to get a drink on Joe Lycett at this rate, but you'll have a lovely time regardless and you'll be very much in the spirit of Joe Lycett, who reminded everyone at the end of each episode of The Lycett Arms to go and support your nearest and nicest pub. We're only weathering the hospitality storm that way!”
A little support goes a long way
Joe Lycett’s £100 contribution will only stretch so far, but the message behind it is much bigger. Independent pubs are more than places to grab a drink: they provide spaces for people to meet, connect and feel part of their local community.
As Lucy and the team at The Dodo prepare to welcome customers on Friday, it is a timely reminder that the best way to support the independent businesses we love is to keep visiting them long after the headlines have faded.
The Dodo Micropub is in Hanwell. The £100 bar tab is available from 6.30pm on Friday, 16 October, while funds last. Ask for “Joe Lycett's tab” when ordering.
Find out more at The Dodo Micropub.
