End of an era at Marine Tavern

Steve Chillingworth and Nat Robinson, landlords at the Marine Tavern for the last 12 years said goodbye to their regulars this evening, Sunday 10.

Drag with No Name provided the entertainment while friends and customers from over the years turned out in force to wish the popular couple well for the future.

Under Steve and Nat’s stewardship the Marine Tavern has been one of the largest fundraising bars in the gay village consistantly punching above its weight and raising thousands of pounds for local organisations both straight and gay.

They were recognised for their fundraising efforts at this years Golden Handbag Award receiving the coveted Golden Handbag fundraising award.

They are now both going on a well deserved holiday to San Francisco and will be attending Pride in Palm Springs.

Steve wished the couple taking over the Marine Tavern tomorrow all the best for the future.

When they received the 2013-14 Golden Handbag for fundraising at the Metropole Hilton in June, James Ledward, editor of Gscene said: “Some businesses in the community have become great fundraisers. Some to be honest are very poor.

“Some operators get it while others just don’t understand there is a link between quiet bars and community perceptions that the business sector do not support our voluntary sector organisations enough with fundraising.

“Tonight I am going to recognise two people who do get it.

“They beaver away tirelessly throughout the year raising money for many different organisations, putting many larger venues to shame.

“They don’t do big fundraisers but focus on raising small amounts of money 52 weeks of the year.

“I have done this job for 20 years and can honestly say that in my experience they have been the most effective fundraisers we have in Gay Brighton.

“They are a tiny venue, punching well above their weight and the owners will be moving on to other projects after Pride in August.

“The Gscene fundraising award for 2014 goes to Steve Chillingworth and his partner Nat Robinson at the Marine Tavern.”