Last orders for Zoom regulars at virtual Leeds pub the Corona Arms

A virtual pub which went viral after being set up by a group of Leeds friends at the start of the coronavirus lockdown is set to call time.
The Corona ArmsThe Corona Arms
The Corona Arms

There were only around 15 regulars at the Corona Arms when it opened in March with the aim of keeping spirits up.

The virtual pub has attracted a loyal community of 8,000 customers and its weekly quizzes have featured on TV shows Saturday Kitchen and on Russell Howard’s Home Time.

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The Zoom quizzes have raised More than £5,500 for charities including Leeds homeless charity St George’s Crypt, Leeds General Infirmary's neonatal services.

The final quiz is set to be held on Tuesday night (June 9) and it is hoped a target of £6,000 will be reached.

Cash raised during the pub's final weeks will be donated to charity Black Lives Matter.

The Corona Arms was dubbed the pub 'where everybody knows your name... and they’re always glad you stayed indoors' when it opened its doors 10 weeks ago.

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It was set up by a group of friends who used to work at Headingley marketing agency Brass, which closed last year.

With everything from its very own 'barmaid' Pam-Denic making weekly special guest appearances, to lip-sync and kazoo music rounds, complete with outrageous costumes, it is regarded as a virtual quiz like no other.

Quiz coordinator Emily Huyton, said: “It’s crazy to think that 10 weeks ago the pub was born purely as a result of a Zoom chat with friends, and now it’s become a viral sensation.

“We’ve built up a loyal fanbase and it’s become a weekly routine for us that we all look forward to. Our Instagram page grew from zero to 5,000 followers after the first week - and now we’ve almost doubled that."

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Quizmaster, performer and writer, Harry May-Bedell, of Far Headingley, said: “People’s generosity is incredible and we’ve raised almost £6,000 for some vital causes during these strange, extremely tough times. Now, we want to invite everyone to come together and help us reach that £6k target, by having a laugh with us and Pam-Denic once more."

The Corona Arms’ final quiz will take place on Tuesday 9th June. Zoom details will be shared on the pub’s Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/the_corona_arms/To make a donation, visit The Corona Arms’ fundraiser page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/quiz-funds?utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet

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