For Charlotte and James at The White Horse Pub, community has been at the heart of everything they have done for the past 18 years since becoming tenants. Our Community Hero Award celebrates pubs that go above and beyond to make a real difference in their local area — and The White Horse is a perfect example of that. From charity fundraising and family events to providing a welcoming place where people can come together, the pub has built a reputation as a true community hub.
In our interview with Charlotte, we also wanted to congratulate her and the team on being semi-finalists in the BII Awards 2026. We wanted to know what that recognition means to The White Horse.
Recognition for Community Work
When asked how it felt to see her work recognised on a wider stage, Charlotte said:
- “It feels really rewarding to have got to this stage. There was more than 800 applications, so to get down to the last 12 was much more than we expected.”
She also explained that awards are about both achievement and the wider impact they help create.
- “It’s great to go for awards. When we did the Leicester tourism awards, we won a couple of those. We also found it was a really good way of benchmarking ourselves. Through the analysis that we had put together for the application, it means that you raise your game a bit. To make sure you have the right boxes ticked, to make sure you’ve got the right food offering, make sure you have a good level of customer service as good as it possible can be.”
Charity Work at the Heart of The White Horse
One of the biggest examples of that community spirit is the pub’s annual duck race, which is a much-loved local tradition and major fundraiser.
Charlotte explained how the charity work all began:
- “So when we first started the duck races, it was an event that run previously in Birstall. Before we took the pub over , it hadn’t happened for years. And in 2009, we decided it would be a good thing to do, to sort of re-establish the pub as part of the community”
- “Raising significant amounts of money for causes is amazing. I did a little tot up, over the time we have been doing it since 2009. We didn’t do in 2020 or 2021 due to covid but we raised over £72,000. That’s just the duck race!”
- “People also come to us and say can we hold an event. We have a really good connection with the local cancer charities like Birstall BAGs. So we do a lot of quizzes, we hold casino evenings, there’s a Leicestershire hospice that was a really important place in a lot of peoples hearts – LOROS hospice.”
She also reflected on how the event has grown over the years:
- “Last year, the full total for the duck race was at nearly £10,000. £6,000 of that was for Birstall girl guides. We have a list of prizes, mostly from suppliers and local businesses. We also visit all the primary schools with our duck mascot”
A Hidden Gem in Birstall
Charlotte described what makes The White Horse special to those who may not have visited before:
- “We offer a really good balance of nice environment, friendly faces, I believe great customer service, great food, and the environment is quite… unique!”
- “I would describe this pub as a ‘hidden gem’ because you come down the lane, and you think oh my goodness, where am I going? Then you come around the corner and you see it!”
Why Community and Customers play a vital role
- “Being heart of the community means helping people, offering a place where people can come and meet other people, have a drink, coming and sharing, spending time with family or friends. I think it’s a safe space feeling.”
Well Deserved Recognition
The award has been warmly praised by Trust Inns’ BDM Adam for the area, who said:
“This award is a wonderful recognition of everything The White Horse stands for — not just as a pub, but as a true hub of the community. Pubs like The White Horse bring people together, create friendships, support local causes, and provide a warm welcome to everyone who walks through the door. Awards like this are earned not just by the building itself, but by the owners, hardworking staff, loyal customers and the wider community who help make it so special.
He added: “To everyone involved with The White Horse, you should be incredibly proud. Your commitment, kindness, and community spirit have rightly been recognised. Congratulations once again on this fantastic achievement, and here’s to many more years of success at the heart of Leicester.”
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