The Wetherspoons game is coming to Bristol to help the city's homeless

A famous Wetherspoons game could see up to 300 meals being donated to Bristol's homeless population next month. Members of the Facebook group 'Wetherspoons the Game' will travel to Bristol on Monday, July 1, encouraging donations from members of the public.

The group will settle at a table in V-Shed before posting on the Facebook group, which has over 700,000 members, asking for burger meal donations. Homeless charities will then collect the meals and share them with those in need.

Chris Illman, 43, from Portsmouth, is the man behind the famous Wetherspoons game. He started the Facebook group, which now has over 700,000 followers, back in 2018, when he wanted to help pay back the help he received when he had cancer and was facing homelessness.

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The Facebook group has around 20 moderators who join in tours across the UK. This year, Chris and the gang have been to Birmingham, Liverpool, Norwich, Bournemouth and Belfast.

The target is 300 burger meal donations. This has been achieved in record times in previous attempts.

“Our record is 15 minutes and 53 seconds. We were sent a burger meal every 3.17 seconds. I don’t think that’s ever going to be beatable. That was in Norwich," said Chris.

“The second place was Liverpool which was 19 minutes, and Belfast was 28 minutes. So it varies in time but its usually around half an hour.”

Four charities will receive meals on the night. These are: Blonde Angel, Bosh, Bristol Soup Run and Help Bristol's Homeless.

“300 burgers doesn’t really scratch the surface. Homelessness in England at the moment is unbelievable, people just don’t realise it, but raising awareness is what’s the most important," said Chris.

"When we get four organisations together, that’s four organisations who will be spreading the message of what’s happening on the night.”

BillyChip, the homelessness project founded in Bristol, will be funding travel and accommodation for the trip. The BillyChip allows people to pay £2 for a poker-style chip which homeless people can then use to pay for food at shops such as Greggs.

"BillyChip are proud to support this innovative project, helping feed Bristol's homeless through the amazing outreach services based in our city. BillyChip is a safe and secure currency the public can purchase for £2 each from many outlets in Bristol City Centre to donate to rough-sleepers in case they feel hesitant or are unable to give cash," said Jack Gascoigne, Director of Communications for BillyChip.

BillyChips are redeemable across the city by the homeless for takeaway food and drink - all profits raised from the operation of BillyChip go to our foundation to fund other projects supporting the homeless, such as The Wetherspoon Game's monthly Homeless Feed."

For updates on how to take part in the game, click here.

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