Pub goes hook, line and sinker to support RNLI Fish Supper campaign

From left David Hastings, Joanne Curtis and Paul Brown with RNLI mascot Stormy Stan.

Promising “trout of this world” fish dishes on Friday nights throughout October, The Seaton Lane Inn in Seaton is giving a £1 donation (50p children’s meals) from every RNLI Fish special to the charity, which saves lives at sea.

General manager Paul Brown said: “The RNLI do a brilliant job of saving lives and protecting people on the water.

“And given our location close to the Sunderland and Durham coastline and Seaham’s very proud heritage of saving lives at sea, we wanted to go all out to support the RNLI’s Fish Supper campaign.

“What could be better than enjoying one of our local beer-battered fish and homemade chip meals, knowing that by doing so you are helping a very worthy cause?

“We’re proud to support the RNLI so that they can continue to save even more lives at sea.”

The nationwide RNLI Fish Supper event honours lifeboat crew members who miss meal times and special occasions with loved ones to save lives at sea.

Last year, RNLI lifeboat crews across the UK and Ireland rescued 8,643 people and saved 431 lives. It costs more than £485,000 per day to run the RNLI, and the charity relies on donations from the public to continue its life-saving service.

The money raised from The Seaton Lane Inn fish suppers will be used to buy equipment and pay for training for RNLI volunteers.

The RNLI’s fish-themed annual fundraiser aims to raise awareness of crew who drop everything – even weddings, birthdays and births – to venture into often dangerous waters to rescue people who have found themselves in difficulty.

RNLI volunteer crew member Robin Palmer said: “As a volunteer crew member, my pager can beep at any time.

“Whether I’m at work, asleep in bed or about to tuck into my dinner – I’ll stop what I’m doing and go straight to the lifeboat station, ready to save lives.

“Events such as Fish Fridays hosted by The Seaton Lane Inn are a great way for people to get together, enjoy a fantastic meal and raise vital funds for our life-saving charity.”

The Seaton Lane Inn also supports the RNLI by acting as a drop-off point for “Betty’s 5p Pots” that encourage people to collect small change for the RNLI.

For more information about the campaign, visit RNLI.org/FishSupper.