‘Set a date’ to open pubs

BEER sales in the UK fell by almost £8 billion in 2020 as pubs faced the biggest crisis in their history due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Glasses are distinctly half-empty among pub bosses, who today claim that the Government needs to act urgently to ensure the future of the Great British pub.

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) is urging the Government to give a clear timeline and date for when pubs can reopen. It comes as figures reveal the devastating impact of lockdowns and stiff trading restrictions had on the pub trade.

Beer sales fell by 56 per cent in 2020 – down by £7.8 billion.

And with 43 per cent of the 900,000 people working in pubs and brewing aged under 25 they fear for a huge wave of unemployment among the young.

Without additional support from the Government many in the pub trade fear the demise of the traditional pub as we know it.

The BBPA today publishes a recovery roadmap to reopen pubs after this lockdown to give operators the certainty they need to continue trading.

Philip Whitehead, chairman of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: “This is not sustainable for our sector. We cannot continue to hold out under these circumstances. We urge the Government to provide clarity to our sector on when it can expect to fully reopen.

“As a sector we have invested hundreds of millions in ensuring that we provide places for people to safely socialise in. When pubs reopened in July we did so safely and successfully to world-leading standards.

“When pubs can reopen, the restrictions they face – ranging from the substantial meal rule to the 10pm curfew – must be removed. They simply destroy their ability to operate as viable businesses.

St Austell Brewery, which also

owns Bath Ales, has nearly 180 pubs across the South West and directly employs more than 1,000 people.

Its chief executive Kevin Georgel said: “Since March, we’ve worked tirelessly and collaboratively to support the battle against Covid-19.

“We’ve closed our pubs, invested millions in reopening safely and played a responsible role in balancing the public health risk and the economic impact. Despite these efforts, hospitality continues to suffer more than any other industry.

“As one of the West Country’s biggest employers, we urge the Government to provide us with a definitive reopening date to enable us to plan

generations to come.

Those who purchase community shares in the pub will also become members of the society and will collectively help to steer how the pub is run.

The society has been advised by the Plunkett Foundation, a charity which has helped more than 600 community businesses reach the trading stage.

It hopes to provide additional services to benefit the community, particularly those addressing rural isolation and loneliness.

Under consideration are regular community lunches, a parcel pick-up and drop-off service and a community defibrillator.

It said it envisages local clubs and societies will be able to book space for meetings and in the daytime hopes a café will create a social and workplace hub for locals and businesses.

Located in the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the pub will actively highlight the many outdoor activities that are accessible from its doorstep including the Ridgeway National Trail and National Cycle Trail as well as network of walking, running and mountain biking routes via public footpaths and bridleways.

The campaign has won the backing of local MP Danny Kruger.

The Devizes MP, who is the son of Great British Bake Off presenter Prue Leith, said: “I passionately believe in the power of communities coming together to achieve things they could not do alone.

“The campaign to save and buy the Silks on the Downs in Ogbourne St Andrew is a great example of this.”

For information about the share issue visit