A much loved Somerset pub dubbed “the world’s most festive” has been cruelly burgled while raising money for poorly children. The Queen Victoria Inn, in Priddy, always puts on an impressive display this time of year but this year’s has been bittersweet.
With 55,000 lights, the annual switch on took place on Friday (December 6) but the owners have announced the pub was raided that same night. The pub owners have also alluded that money was taken from a collection for poorly children staying in a hospice.
This year’s festive illuminations and the pub’s annual Santa Run have been raising money for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW), a cause which Mark Walton and wife Debs have supported for several years.
Taking to Facebook following the switch on event, they said: “WE ARE DEVASTATED TO ANNOUNCE THE PUB WAS ROBBED LAST NIGHT. WE WILL NOT BE OPENING THIS WEEKEND. Everyone who was here tonight, please check the background of all your photos and videos for any suspicious behaviour.
“Or if you think you may have seen anything please call the pub or the police or send us a message. PLEASE SHARE. And to the scumbags who did this – you have just stolen from a children’s charity event at Christmas, we will find out who you are!”
Following an overwhelming amount of support, however, they decided to open from 4pm this afternoon, saying it was lucky that the majority of donations were taken by card payment. To recover some of the stolen funds, they are making a final push for people to donate to the Santa Run next weekend.
In an update, they said: “We would just like to thank everyone for their well wishes.” View the JustGiving page, here.