A BARRHEAD business guru has raised £100,000 for good causes after hosting Facebook quiz nights to boost spirits during lockdown.

Andy Dunlop, who is the Business Improvement District (BID) manager for Barrhead and Clarkston, set up The Stayin’ Inn online pub in March last year.

He organised his first virtual quiz from home to test live streaming equipment he would be using to continue his work while offices were closed.

A week later, the BBC invited him to appear on The One Show after hearing about his efforts to bring people together online.

Since then, The Stayin’ Inn has hosted more than 200 events, including a weekly quiz, karaoke, live music, comedy and the From Zoom To Groom dating show.

Now the fundraising total has soared into six figures, with donations made to various charities and good causes.

Andy, who is married to Jenny and dad to six-year-old Ivy, five-year-old Travis, three-year-old Taylor and eight-month-old Piper, said: “It wasn’t something we set out to do and, to be honest, it hasn’t quite sunk in but we’re very proud of everything we have achieved.

“The support The Stayin’ Inn has received, especially from our regular quizzers and the community around it, has been fantastic.

“Right at the start of lockdown, we teamed up with the Beatson Cancer Charity and they’ve become part of the family now. More than half of what we’ve raised so far has went to them.”

Charlene Low, of the Beatson Cancer Charity, is full of praise for Andy and his family.

“The support they and the Stayin’ Inn community have shown the Beatson has been a huge highlight for us,” she said.

Andy, who also launched the fizzy-drink review podcast Five Star Sodas, has vowed to continue his fundraising efforts, even as lockdown is eased.

He also hopes to bring a number of events back to Barrhead and Clarkston in the months ahead, to give people the chance to meet up in person and also provide a boost for local traders.

“We’ve had to cancel and postpone so many community events over the past 12 months, like our Christmas lights switch-on, Hallowe’en parade and the Barrhead Rainbow Run,” he said.

“It’s been incredibly disappointing but we are moving forward and have some exciting plans for events over the summer months."