LANDLADY Faye Thomson loves it that her pub brings friends and families together and is a venue to host charity events. 

Faye took over The Woodmans Arms in Rayleigh Road, Thundersley, in 2020, and now the pub team regularly put on charitable events for good causes.

Most recently the team hosted a superhero fundraising event along with Simon Foxen and The Thundersley Superhero Alliance for charity Karis’ Helping Hand.

The Southend Ghostbusters, The Blackwater Pirates Essex, Salvo Stone, Rayleigh Fire Station and The Essex Cosplayers also helped and together they raised £521 for the brain tumour charity.

Faye said: “It is nice for me to have the pub and have the opportunity to hold charity events. Karis’ Helping Hand charity is dear to my heart, my son went to the same school as her little brother and I knew of Karis - she was a very courageous and lovely little girl.” 

Faye and Simon are currently planning their new charity event on 7 August, with updates available on the pub’s Facebook page. Having worked at the venue for two years before taking over, Faye was ready to take on the opportunity.

“I listened to locals and what they wanted from the pub,” said Faye. “They said they wanted it to be a local pub, not a bistro or a restaurant. They wanted a community pub geared toward them, with something for everyone.”

Faye has achieved just that and the pub has regular live entertainment, televised sport, events, an outside Tiki Bar and barbecue, and children’s play area. There are more than 100 gins, a selection of fine wines and changing range of ales, plus tasty dishes on the menu like Sunday roasts, burgers and fish dishes.

“We have lots of livemusic and all different genres of music to suit everyone,” said Faye. But she believes that more could be done to support small charities.

She said: “Steve and Angela McMonagle and their family set up Karis’ Helping Hand in memory of their beautiful daughter Karis. The charity has helped so many families of children with brain tumours. It isn’t easy for small charities to get the word out about what they’re doing. I spoke to Rebecca Harris MP about this when she came along to our event. We do what we can but it would be great to see more support.”

Visit www.KarisHelpingHand. org.uk and for details on the pub see @woodmansarmspub on Facebook