Sam Fender says he’s turning new BRIT Award into a beer pump at his local pub
Fender received a hero's welcome at North Shields' Low Lights Tavern after this week's big BRITs win
By Tom Skinner
Sam Fender has said he plans to turn his new BRIT Award into a beer pump at his local pub in North Shields.
The singer-songwriter took home the Best Rock/Alternative act award at the BRITs 2022, which took place on Tuesday (February 8). He received the Rising Star Award – formerly known as the Critics’ Choice Award – back in 2019.
During an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live (via BBC News), Fender explained that his first BRIT statue found a home on the bar at his favourite drinking spot and former workplace, the Low Lights Tavern in North Shields.
“Every time we go for a drink we can have a victory pint,” he told the station, adding: “Now I’ve got two, I’m going to go back [to the pub] and do the exact same thing.”
Elsewhere, the musician said he’d “particularly” set his sights on the Best Rock/Alternative gong as that category was voted for by fans. “To us that just shows how passionate our fans are, how much they care and how much they want to see us succeed,” Fender explained.
“That, for me, is the most incredible thing.”
Footage has since emerged of the ‘Spit Of You’ singer returning to the Low Lights Tavern with his second BRIT Award in hand. After stepping out of a black Range Rover, Fender is seen being greeted by a crowd of proud locals outside the pub before making his way inside.
He also smashed up a piñata of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s head with his BRIT while being cheered on by onlookers. Check out the videos below.
Congratulating their most famous customer on his big win, staff from the Low Lights Tavern posted on social media: “Well done Sam Fender and the band, Deano, Joe, Drew, Tom and Jonny blue hat. True Rock Royalty born and bred in North Shields.”
Fender shot a special live performance at the pub for an appearance on US chat show The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last November.
Sam Fender was also nominated for the BRITs’ Artist Of The Year and Mastercard Album Of The Year (‘Seventeen Going Under’) awards, which were both won by Adele.
In July, Fender will perform his biggest show yet at Finsbury Park in London. He’ll be joined by the support acts Fontaines D.C, Declan McKenna, Goat Girl and Beabadoobee.
Speaking to Rolling Stone UK upon the gig’s announcement last December, Fender revealed that he planned to “start recording January time” for his third studio album. “There’s loads of material from the ‘Seventeen’ sessions too that’s worth revisiting,” he said. “I think that story isn’t finished either.”
Fender continued: “Even though I’m spending more time in London than at home, my hometown story affects us and a lot of my friends still provide a lot of that material.”