Help Protect The Toucan, re-open and stay open
Donation protected
If you’ve ever frequented Soho in the last twenty five years there’s a fair chance you’ve stumbled across The Toucan, nestled away at 19 Carlisle Street just off Soho Square.
This iconic, tiny pub celebrates all things Guinness, adorned with memorabilia from years gone by, with painted Toucans flying around the walls. It is famed for pouring one of the best pints of ‘the black stuff’ this side of Dublin and stocking Irish whisky a plenty, even selling the legendary Irish crisps, Tayto. This place has been an integral part of the Soho community since 1995 and is a haven for the Irish community of London.
You may have whiled away an evening in the legendary basement bar, with the pints and whisky flowing, listened to impromptu Irish music played by customers with a quick rendition of ‘The Wild Rover’. You may have joined the hordes of punters having a pint out on the street, or even been part of the craic at one of the pubs St Patrick's day celebrations.
If you are one of those fortunate enough to have had a pint at The Toucan, you’ll know it’s a very special place indeed. And it needs your help.
The Toucan has been run by Colin and Carol for the last 25 years and it’s highly probable they would have been behind the bar on your visit. If you have ever had the pleasure to spend time with them, you would know that they are the very best of people. They have always treated their customers like family, welcoming everyone into their home away from home with open hearts. Many great memories have been made in this tiny pub, and they wouldn't want it any other way.
The last year has been one of heartache for many, and endurance for all. And that is no different here for Colin and Carol who have been put under immense financial strain due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Having to close their business for the first time in all those years has been so difficult for them. They have spent the last year taking the very best care of their team, at every step and trying to keep the pub afloat just to be able to open the doors to you all once again. Like many, they have done this with many months of zero income and with lots of bills to pay even while closed. Even when able to open last year, the restrictions in place [social distancing, table service and no outside drinkers] made it impossible to trade at the volume needed to cover those costs.
So we need your support to protect the toucan, to help it re-open and stay open.
As we head into a time where we hope to see restrictions lifted for all, The Toucan will not be able to open until inside seating is allowed, and we know there will be many restrictions to follow for the first few months. It will take some time before we can bump shoulders in the basement bar again, or join a queue, four people deep to get a round to enjoy outside with our friends but we cannot wait for that time to come. If you have ever enjoyed a pint at The Toucan or think you'd like to in the future, we need you to help us Protect The Toucan.
These are still difficult times and we needs your support. With the months ahead still looking very uncertain, the money raised will go straight towards the business and cover rent and bills for the next six months, contributing to keeping all the staff employed while restrictions are still in place and trading capacity is still under such threat.
This money will take the pressure off a little and allow Colin and Carol to open the pub from May and not need to worry so much about the highly diminished trade levels and huge costs of keeping the business afloat but just focus on pouring you a great pint and keeping the doors open for the future.
Donate what you can, see it as buying a virtual pint or two, to make sure you can have a real one in the future.
With your support we will be able to #ProtectTheToucan and help it re-open and stay open, so we all can continue making memories and drinking pints for years to come.
Thanks, Cheers and Sláinte.
This campaign is being run by Megan and Erica, and the family and friends of The Toucan.
The Toucan Website
The Toucan Instagram
This iconic, tiny pub celebrates all things Guinness, adorned with memorabilia from years gone by, with painted Toucans flying around the walls. It is famed for pouring one of the best pints of ‘the black stuff’ this side of Dublin and stocking Irish whisky a plenty, even selling the legendary Irish crisps, Tayto. This place has been an integral part of the Soho community since 1995 and is a haven for the Irish community of London.
You may have whiled away an evening in the legendary basement bar, with the pints and whisky flowing, listened to impromptu Irish music played by customers with a quick rendition of ‘The Wild Rover’. You may have joined the hordes of punters having a pint out on the street, or even been part of the craic at one of the pubs St Patrick's day celebrations.
If you are one of those fortunate enough to have had a pint at The Toucan, you’ll know it’s a very special place indeed. And it needs your help.
The Toucan has been run by Colin and Carol for the last 25 years and it’s highly probable they would have been behind the bar on your visit. If you have ever had the pleasure to spend time with them, you would know that they are the very best of people. They have always treated their customers like family, welcoming everyone into their home away from home with open hearts. Many great memories have been made in this tiny pub, and they wouldn't want it any other way.
The last year has been one of heartache for many, and endurance for all. And that is no different here for Colin and Carol who have been put under immense financial strain due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Having to close their business for the first time in all those years has been so difficult for them. They have spent the last year taking the very best care of their team, at every step and trying to keep the pub afloat just to be able to open the doors to you all once again. Like many, they have done this with many months of zero income and with lots of bills to pay even while closed. Even when able to open last year, the restrictions in place [social distancing, table service and no outside drinkers] made it impossible to trade at the volume needed to cover those costs.
So we need your support to protect the toucan, to help it re-open and stay open.
As we head into a time where we hope to see restrictions lifted for all, The Toucan will not be able to open until inside seating is allowed, and we know there will be many restrictions to follow for the first few months. It will take some time before we can bump shoulders in the basement bar again, or join a queue, four people deep to get a round to enjoy outside with our friends but we cannot wait for that time to come. If you have ever enjoyed a pint at The Toucan or think you'd like to in the future, we need you to help us Protect The Toucan.
These are still difficult times and we needs your support. With the months ahead still looking very uncertain, the money raised will go straight towards the business and cover rent and bills for the next six months, contributing to keeping all the staff employed while restrictions are still in place and trading capacity is still under such threat.
This money will take the pressure off a little and allow Colin and Carol to open the pub from May and not need to worry so much about the highly diminished trade levels and huge costs of keeping the business afloat but just focus on pouring you a great pint and keeping the doors open for the future.
Donate what you can, see it as buying a virtual pint or two, to make sure you can have a real one in the future.
With your support we will be able to #ProtectTheToucan and help it re-open and stay open, so we all can continue making memories and drinking pints for years to come.
Thanks, Cheers and Sláinte.
This campaign is being run by Megan and Erica, and the family and friends of The Toucan.
The Toucan Website
The Toucan Instagram
Fundraising team (2)
Megan Laurel Taylor
Organizer
England
Colin Taylor
Beneficiary
Erica Stevenson
Team member