But will there be beer if the pubs reopen?

“THERE’S nothing so lonesome, so morbid or drear, than to stand in a bar, of a pub with no beer” – or so the famous song goes, but that’s what could be facing Welsh drinkers when they return to enjoy a pint.

Welsh pubs may face a beer shortage because brewers in Wales are having to “scramble” to make enough beer and ale ahead of pubs reopening on the likely date of July 13.

Chief executive of Brains Alistair Darby warned it would not have enough beer ready in time to stock pubs ahead of the reopening of restaurants and beer gardens.

He said the firm had consistently said to all governments that in order to restock supply chains and re-open pubs, they needed four weeks’ notice, or a minimum of three.

“Yesterday’s announcement has effectively given us only 10 days. So there is actually a very serious problem in terms of draught beer and draught soft drinks and so on. Even if we were allowed to open on July 13, it is highly likely we would not be able to stock those pubs because we’ve had insufficient notice,” said Mr Darby.

Industry experts have also warned that independent Welsh brewers are now facing a “scramble” to get their beer ready on such short notice.

Ordinarily, it takes two to three weeks to prepare casks of ale and beer for trade use, meaning many brewers which have been closed throughout lockdown will not be able to meet the short deadline.

The chief executive of the Society of Independent Brewers, James Calder, warned this gave “global companies with deeper pockets” a competitive advantage.

Sarah John, the co-founder of Boss Brewing Co, also criticised the Welsh Government for the announcement, saying 10 days was not enough time for brewers to prepare for pubs to re-open.

She said: “First of all, I am not even sure many Welsh pubs will open. It’s really hard to open just for the beer garden, especially living in Wales, it rains a lot. I am not sure it’s commercially viable for pubs to open just the garden, we have spoken to a few who have told us they are not going to open.

“The 10 days’ notice, if we did have that massive rush of orders, wouldn’t be possible.”