Punch Taverns has become the first national pub operator to officially partner Comic Relief for its Red Nose Day 2005 celebrations.

All of the company's 7,800 outlets have been given the opportunity to become official Red Nose Day Party Pubs. Licensees can access an exclusive promotional kit designed to maximise the business building opportunities presented by the national celebration on Friday 11 March.

Marketing manager for Punch Taverns, Nicola Ramsden, said: "On occasions like Red Nose Day, pubs are often the focus for local community activity and this new pack will give our retailers a distinct commercial advantage.

"It is full of eye catching POS material, including a huge Red Nose Day external sign, as well as lots of great ideas and suggestions for fundraising events."

Themed 'Big Hair and Beyond,' Red Nose Day 2005 is being supported by a host of top celebrities, including pub landlord Al Murray and Ewen MacIntosh, who plays 'Keith' from the BBC hit comedy The Office.

Both feature heavily on the Punch Taverns promotional material.

And there is a chance that one lucky Punch Taverns pub may also have their Red Nose Day activities featured on television as part of the day's celebrations.

Nicola added: "Pubs that are organising something really special will be able to enter a competition to have their activities filmed and possibly televised on Red Nose Day, which could provide another great PR opportunity."

Since its launch in 1985, Comic Relief has raised £337 million for projects all over the UK and beyond. Every single project Comic Relief supports is helping poor and disadvantaged people in the UK, Africa or the world's poorest countries to turn their lives around and make positive changes in their communities.

There will be a link from the Red Nose Day website (www.rednoseday.com) to view all participating Punch Taverns pubs.

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For further information, please contact Nick Trueman or Jules Kerby at Seal Communications on 0121 200 0780 or email nicktrueman@sealcommunications.co.uk.

Note to editors:

To order a copy of Comic Relief's Fundraising Kit call 0845 605 8000 (calls charged at local rate) or go to www.rednoseday.com. To make a credit card donation call 08457 910 910 (local rate call charges apply) or online at www.rednoseday.com