AN HISTORIC pub in York will be giving away free beer next month – but only to people called Martin.

The Ackhorne, in St Martin's Lane, is holding a charity fundraising event to coincide with St Martin’s Day - all in aid of Martin House Hospice.

On the weekend of November 9 and 10, the pub will be donating a share of all proceeds to the charity and will also be holding a themed raffle and quiz to help the cause.

Two brewers called Martin have donated free beer for the occasion, pub regulars called Martin or Martyn are backing the event – and anyone called Martin who is in the pub between 3pm and 4pm on the Saturday will be able to claim a free pint of beer.

St Martin’s Day falls on November 11 and celebrates St Martin of Tours, who lived in the fourth century. St Martin’s Lane in York runs from Fetter Lane, in Bishophill Junior, to Micklegate, and includes St Martin Cum Gregory Church.

Oliver Fallon, landlord of The Ackhorne, said the pub was keen to find novel events and said organising an event around St Martin’s Day, to acknowledge the street’s history, seemed a good idea.

BBC York will also be broadcasting from the pub on the day, as it is currently running a fundraising appeal for the hospice, at Boston Spa.

Martin Dickie, from BrewDog brewery in Scotland, has donated a crate of beer for the pub’s raffle, and Martin Cullimore, from Batemans Brewery in Lincolnshire, has donated a free cask of ale for the weekend.

 

So who was the original St Martin of Tours?

St Martin of Tours, left, is said to have lived from 316 to 397 AD. He was a Roman legionary and later became the third Bishop of Tours.

According to folklore, he was modest and altruistic and legend has it that he once saved a naked beggar from freezing to death by tearing his own cloak in two and giving half to the poor man. His tomb is at Tours in France.

St Martin’s Day is widely observed in Germany, where children often make lanterns and participate in processions, led by an actor dressed as a Roman soldier, riding a horse.