George Clooney’s visit to Edinburgh is the gift that keeps on giving in so many ways.
The Hollywood A-lister stayed in the capital’s newly refurbished George Hotel last week when he was in town to support the Social Bite charitable enterprise.
£1 donation on restaurant bills
Today, along with its four sister hotels (The Roxburghe and The Bonham in Edinburgh and Blythswood Square and Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow), The George Hotel has announced a twelve-month support program for Social Bite.
The five hotels are part of Principal Hayley Hotels. Throughout the winter, 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 in support of the chain of sandwich shops.
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.
Harris Tweed dog collars
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.
The hotel 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.
Good causes
Josh Littlejohn, co-founder of Social Bite, said: ‘It’s fantastic to join forces with these five hotels and their restaurants as they team up with us on our mission to help other people, including the thousands of Scots who currently are homeless. Every single penny of the funds these venues raise will be donated to good causes that we are passionate about supporting.
‘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.’
Laurie Nicol, regional operations director for Scotland for Principal Hayley Hotels, said: ‘Social Bite is a tremendous organisation that is doing an outstanding amount of good for homeless people across Edinburgh and Glasgow and we’re very proud to support its cause as our charity for 2016.’