At the end of last week, the strong rains that affected the United Kingdom caused the sinking in the river Thames of the Bar&Co, a boat converted into a restaurant and events room, but which also had a strong link with the FC Barcelona supporters’ club. For 15 years, the Bar&Co was the place where the Penya Blaugrana London gathered its members every day of a Barça match.
Once the news was known, among the consternation caused by the loss of a place that they considered their home, the supporters’ club presided by Eduard Manas has quickly set out to palliate the damages to the family that owned the place and its workers. Thus, the PB London has launched an online crowdfunding campaign to try to alleviate the damage caused by this event.
Of the £5,000 established as a target, the initiative has currently surpassed £4,800 thanks to the numerous expressions of support received by the PB London, in many cases from other penyes and from fans all over the world.
A benchmark for culers and Catalans in London
Founded in 1985, the Penya Blaugrana London is currently the longest active official penya in the FCB World Federation and has become a symbol of Barça in the city of London and throughout the United Kingdom. In fact, it has members spread across different parts of the country, and with a great diversity of nationalities among them. Any supporter who visited the British capital and wanted to watch a Barça match knew that they could do so at the PB London headquarters. Also, the supporters’ club often leads the way for Barça’s European trips to the UK.
In addition to this promotion of FC Barcelona and its values, the PB London is also committed to the dissemination of Catalan culture in its city. The penya collaborates regularly with the delegation of the Generalitat de Catalunya in London and participates in their actions, such as the celebration of Sant Jordi or the “Diada” of September 11.
