The cry that “cash is king” is ringing a bell with customers at the Fetherston Arms, in Kirkoswald.
A campaign by Clive Allan, the barman at the popular village pub, against the tyranny of credit and debit cards and banking apps is getting his message over in a lighthearted way while also raising money for a good cause.
Each time a customer pays for food or drink at the bar using notes or coins Clive rings a bell and makes his “cash is king” call, to the continuing amusement of regular patrons and occasional bemusement of newcomers.
He explains that his jovial campaign started at a local event where he was behind the bar but ran into problems when the internet went down.
This meant contactless payments would not work and he had to give priority to customers with real money — hence the “cash is king” call.
He transferred this to the Fetherston Arms, with the bell ring, a couple of months ago and found the move has gone down well with many customers.
Some have even made a point of visiting one of the local shops to get banknotes before calling in at the pub. Clive said: “There is a move at a lot of pubs and shops to do away with real money and I think it’s unfair on people who are older or don’t want to use cards.
“With cash £20 is worth £20 and the bank doesn’t take its cut.”
He has also been getting his message over by selling T-shirts and mugs featuring a cartoon depicting himself and one of the pub’s regular customers, Stuart Young, with the proceeds going to the Dorothy House Hospice, which provides palliative and end of life care to adults with progressive, treatable but not curable life-limiting illnesses.
The cartoon was drawn by an artistic school friend of Clive, Adrian Cooper, who lives in London, and the barman gets extra mugs and T-shirts made up as required.
“Sales of the mugs and T-shirts have raised almost £400 so far for the hospice,” said Clive. He added that he will keep his campaign going for as long as it continues to ring a bell with customers.
