George Clooney And Jeremy Corbyn's 'Homeless' Cafe Visits Couldn't Have Been More Different

Definitive Proof Jeremy Corbyn Could Learn A Thing Or Two From George Clooney
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The streets of Edinburgh were a throng of screaming masses on Thursday as George Clooney made a flying visit to lend his support to a charitable cafe.

The Hollywood A-lister drew press and public alike, all eager to see him eat a sandwich.

Which apparently he didn't do... but promised to buy a loyalty card.

Clooney was of course there for a very good cause - to raise the issue of homelessness.

The Social Bite cafe donates all of its profits to charity. One in four of the cafe's staff are formerly homeless people and they run a "suspended coffee and food’ initiative in which customers can pay upfront for meals and drinks which are then given to homeless people.

Clooney stopped to greet some of those who had waited for hours in the cold, and described the social enterprise as "fantastic".

He told a media scrum outside the cafe: "It's pretty amazing, and I'm looking forward to seeing it, I haven't seen it up close yet.

"I like what they're doing, I think it's a very important cause. I think the idea that we can all participate in everyone's difficulties is really important."

Clooney star described Edinburgh as "beautiful" and said he felt bad for the crowd who had been waiting for him because "they're standing out in the cold".

The carefully managed PR occasion was a far cry from last month when Jeremy Corbyn visited the cafe's sister branch in Glasgow last month and pre-paid for two meals to be given to homeless patrons.

There were no screaming fans, only this chap.

Indeed, news of Corbyn's visit didn't even reach the press until two days after his visit.

A spokeswoman said: "Mr Corbyn visited our Bothwell Street shop yesterday/Friday morning. We appreciate his kind donation."

So there you go Jeremy, all you have to do between here and your next visit is win a couple of Oscars, endorse a coffee capsule brand and perhaps buy some sharper suits.

Oh, and maybe pose for a selfie like this...

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One staff member who met Clooney was kitchen worker Sonny Murray, 36, who said: "Only two years ago I was living on the streets of Edinburgh with a heroin addiction and unable to even afford to eat.

"Today I’m in full-time employment, have an amazing family and I just made lunch for one of the biggest stars on the planet!

"George genuinely seems like a great guy and it was a really special moment when he came into Social Bite to see what it is all about."

George Clooney visit to Scotland
(01 of18)
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Hollywood icon and humanitarian George Clooney arrived in Scotland today and visited a social enterprise sandwich shop that trains, employs and feeds local homeless people. Staff at Social Bite, which gives 100% of its profits to charity, recruits a quarter of its staff from homeless backgrounds, and runs a ‘suspended’ service where customers can pre-pay food for homeless people to claim later, welcomed Mr Clooney to their Rose Street shop in Edinburgh city centre. Whilst in the shop, the award-winning actor and director handed over a donation to buy local homeless people lunch, as well as tucking into a sandwich himself. Josh Littlejohn, the social entrepreneur who co-founded Social Bite, said: “George is an incredible guy, someone who has achieved real global fame but thinks nothing of visiting a local sandwich shop to chat to the workers and discuss the issue of homelessness. “He was delighted to spend time with some of our formerly homeless staff and hear the stories of how they have transformed their lives through full-time work. The fact that he not only sampled the food himself, but also pre-paid meals for homeless people to claim later made it extra special.”
(02 of18)
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Hollywood icon and humanitarian George Clooney arrived in Scotland today and visited a social enterprise sandwich shop that trains, employs and feeds local homeless people. Staff at Social Bite, which gives 100% of its profits to charity, recruits a quarter of its staff from homeless backgrounds, and runs a ‘suspended’ service where customers can pre-pay food for homeless people to claim later, welcomed Mr Clooney to their Rose Street shop in Edinburgh city centre. Whilst in the shop, the award-winning actor and director handed over a donation to buy local homeless people lunch, as well as tucking into a sandwich himself. Josh Littlejohn, the social entrepreneur who co-founded Social Bite, said: “George is an incredible guy, someone who has achieved real global fame but thinks nothing of visiting a local sandwich shop to chat to the workers and discuss the issue of homelessness. “He was delighted to spend time with some of our formerly homeless staff and hear the stories of how they have transformed their lives through full-time work. The fact that he not only sampled the food himself, but also pre-paid meals for homeless people to claim later made it extra special.”
George Clooney Visits 'Social Bite'(03 of18)
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EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 12: Actor George Clooney (C) poses with former homeless staff members during a visit to Social Bite sandwich shop on November 12, 2015 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Jeff Holmes/Getty Images) (credit:Jeff Holmes via Getty Images)
George Clooney visit to Scotland(04 of18)
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Frame PR handout photo of George Clooney meeting owner Josh Littlejohn as he visits Social Bite, a cafe in Edinburgh which helps the homeless. (credit:Jeff Holmes/Frame PR/PA Wire)
George Clooney Visits 'Social Bite'(05 of18)
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EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 12: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Actor George Clooney (R) during a visit to Social Bite sandwich shop, where he met owner Josh Littlejohn (L) and former homeless staff members on November 12, 2015 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Jeff Holmes/Getty Images) (credit:Jeff Holmes via Getty Images)
George Clooney visit to Scotland(06 of18)
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Frame PR handout photo of George Clooney (second left) meeting co-founders Alice Thompson and Josh Littlejohn as he visits Social Bite, a cafe in Edinburgh which helps the homeless. (credit:Jeff Holmes/Frame PR/PA Wire)
(07 of18)
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Hollywood icon and humanitarian George Clooney arrived in Scotland today and visited a social enterprise sandwich shop that trains, employs and feeds local homeless people. Staff at Social Bite, which gives 100% of its profits to charity, recruits a quarter of its staff from homeless backgrounds, and runs a ‘suspended’ service where customers can pre-pay food for homeless people to claim later, welcomed Mr Clooney to their Rose Street shop in Edinburgh city centre. Whilst in the shop, the award-winning actor and director handed over a donation to buy local homeless people lunch, as well as tucking into a sandwich himself. Josh Littlejohn, the social entrepreneur who co-founded Social Bite, said: “George is an incredible guy, someone who has achieved real global fame but thinks nothing of visiting a local sandwich shop to chat to the workers and discuss the issue of homelessness. “He was delighted to spend time with some of our formerly homeless staff and hear the stories of how they have transformed their lives through full-time work. The fact that he not only sampled the food himself, but also pre-paid meals for homeless people to claim later made it extra special.”
George Clooney Visits 'Social Bite'(08 of18)
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EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 12: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Actor George Clooney (second left) during a visit to Social Bite sandwich shop, where he met owners Alice Thompson, (second right) Josh Littlejohn (R) and former homeless staff members on November 12, 2015 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Jeff Holmes/Getty Images) (credit:Jeff Holmes via Getty Images)
George Clooney visit to Scotland(09 of18)
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George Clooney is surrounded by media and fans as he arrives at a Social Bite cafe in Edinburgh after accepting an invitation to meet workers at the sandwich shop which helps the homeless. (credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
George Clooney visit to Scotland(10 of18)
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George Clooney is surrounded by media and fans as he arrives at a Social Bite cafe in Edinburgh after accepting an invitation to meet workers at the sandwich shop which helps the homeless. (credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
George Clooney visit to Scotland(11 of18)
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George Clooney is surrounded by media and fans as he arrives at a Social Bite cafe in Edinburgh after accepting an invitation to meet workers at the sandwich shop which helps the homeless. (credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
George Clooney visit to Scotland(12 of18)
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George Clooney is surrounded by media and fans as he arrives at a Social Bite cafe in Edinburgh after accepting an invitation to meet workers at the sandwich shop which helps the homeless. (credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
George Clooney visit to Scotland(13 of18)
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George Clooney is surrounded by media and fans as he arrives at a Social Bite cafe in Edinburgh after accepting an invitation to meet workers at the sandwich shop which helps the homeless. (credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
(14 of18)
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George Clooney visits Social Bite, a charitable organisation to help the homeless. This is George's first visit to Scotland since 1995. (credit:WENN)
(15 of18)
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George Clooney visits Social Bite, a charitable organisation to help the homeless. This is George's first visit to Scotland since 1995. (credit:WENN)
(16 of18)
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George Clooney visits Social Bite, a charitable organisation to help the homeless. This is George's first visit to Scotland since 1995. (credit:WENN)
(17 of18)
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George Clooney visits Social Bite, a charitable organisation to help the homeless. This is George's first visit to Scotland since 1995. (credit:WENN)
(18 of18)
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George Clooney visits Social Bite, a charitable organisation to help the homeless. This is George's first visit to Scotland since 1995. (credit:WENN)