Two city pubs run dry of lager as Brexit and HGV issues are blamed for hitting chain’s supply lines
TWO Wetherspoon pubs in Derby city centre have fallen victim to a nationwide supply shortage for the pub chain.
Across the country, supplies of Carling and Coors to the pub chain have reportedly been disrupted.
The Derby Telegraph has discovered that The Babington Arms in Babington Lane and The Thomas Leaper in Irongate are out of Bud Light as a result of a shortage of HGV drivers across the UK.
The Standing Order, also on Irongate, said it was having no supply issues at this time.
Despite this, Budweiser and Bud Light are listed as “out of stock” at the pub on the Wetherspoons app.
The Wetherspoons app also says that The Thomas Leaper is also out of Coors, which is brewed just 11 miles away.
Nationally J D Wetherspoon have seen beer shortages seeing many old favourites off the menu.
Mainly retailers are blaming Brexit for shortages as well as the pandemic. The Road Haulage association announced a shortage of 10,000 drivers across the UK as many European drivers leaving during the pandemic and not returning.
This is coupled with a health crisis that has brought the DVLA to a standstill and created a backlog of HGV licences waiting to be issued.
The Government is working with the DVLA to increase the number of tests taking place and has vowed to streamline the process.
They have also increased funding for apprentices to get more workers into the industry but want to ensure the UK is less reliant on overseas drivers.
JD Wetherspoon CEO Tim Martin famously backed leaving the European Union in 2016 but has since called for more EU migration to tackle staff shortages.
A JD Wetherspoon spokesperson said: “We are experiencing some supply problems with both Carling and Coors, which means that some pubs do not have the products available.”