Charity begins at the pub: London bar seeks 'most ethical' title

Naomi Chester, DJ and helper at the Green Vic, which is aiming to be the world's most ethical pub, poses for a photograph in Shoreditch, London, Britain July 5, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

LONDON (Reuters) - Employing the homeless and offering beer brewed from leftover bread, "The Green Vic" in London's trendy Shoreditch district is aiming to be the world's most ethical pub.

Open for an initial three months, founder Randy Rampersad has secured enough funding to buy second-hand furniture, soap made by the blind, toilet rolls from recycled paper and drinks supplied by social enterprises that donate to charity.

He launched the project hoping to enable the average pub-goer to give to charity without having to change their daily routine. The pub employs the homeless and those with disabilities. Food is all plant-based and it avoids sending anything to landfill by recycling and composting.

A barmaid pours a pint at the Green Vic, at a pub in London aiming to be the world's most ethical pub, in Shoreditch, London, Britain July 5, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

"Every single drink you buy goes towards a different charity," Rampersad, 35, told Reuters. "The soap in the toilets, the toilet paper, the staff uniform, all of them help either the homeless or give money back to charity as well."

The drinks menu has ties to over 40 different charities.

For instance, a Brewgooder craft lager, for 4.90 pounds ($6.14), is produced by a non-profit organization that donates all its money to clean water projects in Africa. The Toast Ale, at 5.50 pounds, is brewed with fresh surplus bread.

Randy Rampersand, founder of the Green Vic, who is aiming to create the world's most ethical pub, poses for a photograph in Shoreditch, London, Britain July 5, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

Adopting the industrial chic interior design popular with many other bars in east London, the Green Vic is hoping to secure enough funding for a permanent location.

It has so far had success in attracting customers keen to try out an alternative approach, in a neighborhood catering to students, artists and tourists.

"I've never been to an ethical pub before and I was interested to see what it was like," said John Rampton, 49.

Randy Rampersand, founder of the Green Vic, who is aiming to create the world's most ethical pub, poses for a photograph in Shoreditch, London, Britain July 5, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

"I thought it sounded a good place to go."

(Reporting by Bella Barber; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)

Pedestrians walk past the Green Vic, which is aiming to be the world's most ethical pub, in Shoreditch, London, Britain July 5, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

A toilet paper sits in the toilet at the Green Vic, which is aiming to be the world's most ethical pub, in the Shoreditch, London, Britain July 5, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

A chef cooks vegan food in the Green Grill section of the Green Vic, which is aiming to be the world's most ethical pub, in Shoreditch, London, Britain July 5, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

Customers enjoy drinks at the Green Vic pub, which is aiming to be the world's most ethical pub, poses for a photograph in Shoreditch, London, Britain July 5, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

A menu sits on the wall of the Green Vic, which is aiming to be the world's most ethical pub, in the Shoreditch, London, Britain July 5, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

A chef prepares vegan food in the Green Grill section of the Green Vic, which is aiming to be the world's most ethical pub, in Shoreditch, London, Britain July 5, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

Randy Rampersand, founder of the Green Vic, serves drinks at a pub in London aiming to be the world's most ethical pub, in Shoreditch, London, Britain July 5, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

A chef serves up vegan food in the Green Grill section of the Green Vic, which is aiming to be the world's most ethical pub, in Shoreditch, London, Britain July 5, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

A chef prepares vegan food in the Green Grill section of the Green Vic, which is aiming to be the world's most ethical pub, in Shoreditch, Britain July 5, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

Randy Rampersand, founder of the Green Vic, a pub in London aiming to be the world's most ethical pub serves a bottle of Forty Hall Vineyard wine, in Shoreditch, London, Britain July 5, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

Randy Rampersand, founder of the Green Vic, a pub in London aiming to be the world's most ethical pub serves cans of Brewgooder lager in Shoreditch, London, Britain July 5, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

Wheat straws sit on the bar at the Green Vic, a pub in London aiming to be the world'a most ethical pub, in Shoreditch, London, Britain July 5, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson