A 12-month support by Edinburgh’s George Hotel for the charitable enterprise of Social Bite sandwich shops has kicked off in style: the newly refurbished hotel was home to Hollywood A-lister George Clooney during his whistle-stop tour of the capital.
The George Hotel on George Street has announced details of a year-long campaign to raise funds for the social venture charity that supports the homeless community throughout Scotland.
Oscar-winner George Clooney took time out from his hectic schedule to leave a message in the hotel’s guestbook to commemorate the start of the new initiative. The actor and director, who was the first person to stay in one of the hotel’s luxurious new suites, was presented with Scottish gifts as a thank you. Herringbone Harris Tweed dog collars were personalised for his beloved pets Millie, Einstein and Louie, with matching accessories for his wife, Amal and the actor himself.
£1 voluntary donations
The George Hotel – along with its four iconic sister hotels: The Roxburghe and The Bonham in Edinburgh and Blythswood Square and Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow – will be raising money for the charity over the course of the next year. Each of the venues’ restaurants – The Printing Press Bar & Kitchen, Restaurant at Blythswood Square, Tempus Restaurant at Grand Central, Restaurant at The Bonham and the George Street Bar & Grill – will add a voluntary donation of £1 to bills throughout the winter in support of the remarkable chain of sandwich shops.
The group will continue to support Social Bite throughout 2016 with in-kind support at each of the five hotels as well as sponsoring a glittering fundraising ball at The Grand Central Hotel next year.
Josh Littlejohn, co-founder of Social Bite, said: “Having George Clooney visit our Edinburgh sandwich shop was an incredibly exciting time for Social Bite and it’s great to see so much support flooding in from businesses on our doorstep. We were thrilled that The George Hotel worked so hard to make their best suite ready in time for his arrival. We’re looking forward to working with each of the hotels and restaurants throughout the coming year.”
Social Bite has shops in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, with one in four of the team made up of people with homelessness backgrounds. Restaurant at Blythswood Square, Tempus, George Street Bar & Grill, The Printing Press Bar & Kitchen and Restaurant at The Bonham will add a voluntary donation of £1 to each bill throughout the winter to support these outlets.