First and Last Brewery gives Restoring Ratty project a boost

As part of its ongoing support for the Restoring Ratty project, donations from sales of a very special ale brewed by The First and Last Brewery in Eldson, in Northumberland, have passed the £1,000 milestone.

The friendship between the brewery and the Restoring Ratty project began in 2018 when owners Sam and Red Kellie created a beer called Ratty on behalf of Northumberland Wildlife Trust and offered to donate 20p to the project from each bottle sold.

Kelly Hollings, Restoring Ratty Project Officer keeping her spirits raised with a bottle of ‘Ratty’

The project team trialled 500 pints at the Bellingham Show in August 2018, sold out in record time.

During lockdown, the family-run microbrewery has been busy brewing its cask-conditioned and bottled beer and is offering free home deliveries across Northumberland and Newcastle and by courier across the rest of the UK for a charge.

Kelly Hollings, Restoring Ratty project officer said: “Sam and Red are true inspirations and totally selfless. They didn’t think twice when we approached them with the suggestion of producing a charity beer to help raise funds for the project and have supported us ever since. They are extremely community minded, and even check a camera trap for us near their home in Redesdale.

“Even during Covid we have been receiving donations to our project from them and we couldn’t be more grateful. At a time when local businesses are suffering it’s vital we all pull together, so come on everybody, raise your spirits with a glass of ‘Ratty’ during lockdown.”

Kelly is keen to hear from anybody with a licence who would be willing to sell bottles of the locally brewed ale on the project’s behalf.

She can be contacted at restoringratty@northwt.org.uk or via the Restoring Ratty Facebook page where details of suppliers getting on board are constantly updated.