Drinks firm Castle Lager recently marked South Africa’s Heritage Day with a successful attempt at the world record for most people cooking simultaneously (multiple venues).

The national public holiday, which is celebrated annually on September 24 th, is commonly referred to as 'Braai day', with South African’s traditionally joining together with family and friends to cook barbecued ‘braai’ meat.

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Looking to tap into the national past time as part of its brand awareness strategy, Castle organised the record breaking event at several simultaneous braai get-togethers across the country, with events taking place in parks in Cape Town, Durban, East London, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Pretoria.

Set with a target to beat of 2,311 participants - a record set in 2011 in Chiba, Japan - Castle looked to local media to generate interest in the record attempt, calling on the public to join them in making a new piece of history for the nation.

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Gates to each record attempt venue opened at 12 noon, with a final, record-breaking figure of 2,353 individuals taking part across the country confirmed by Guinness World Records adjudicator Rob Molloy at the Johannesburg leg of the attempt at 5.30pm later that afternoon.

Awarding an official certificate to the event organisers to mark the achievement, Molloy said: “I am delighted to announce that Castle Lager have successfully entered the Guinness World Records with this wonderfully executed event. This great country is steeped in culture and tradition and it is fitting that a record should be broken for a national pastime that is synonymous with every South African,” said Rob Molloy.

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Speaking after the certificate presentation, Alastair Hewitt, General Manager of Castle Lager and Sponsorships at SAB said: “We’re delighted that we have broken a Guinness World Record, it is indicative of our country’s ability to come together and unite in true South African style. We have definitely created history over a “braai” and our great South African beer in the process”.