Spend her victorious
We’re all set to splash out £1BILLION on Queen’s Platinum Jubilee parties
PUB landlords and shop owners are looking forward to a £1BILLION-plus sales bonanza from the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The country’s 45,000 pubs expect to pull 90 million pints over the four-day knees-up, after being given the go-ahead to stay open until 1am.
And the Co-op is hoping to sell 30,000 bottles of champagne, as well as 300,000 ice lollies in the spring sunshine.
Millions of people are also expected to splash out on barbecue food and decorations – giving the hospitality and retail industries a welcome boost after two years of pandemic misery.
Co-op wine buyer Ben Cahill said: “Prosecco remains our best-selling fizz, but when we have a big occasion to celebrate, we see many opting for something more special like champagne.”
Several brewers are creating special beers to toast the Queen’s 70-year reign, and many pubs are throwing street parties. Landlord Jason Smith, who will be hosting a jubilee barbecue at the White Swan in Otley, West Yorks, said: “We took a knock over the past two years, but this will be an opportunity to bounce back.”
Harvir Dhillon, of the British
Retail Consortium, added: “Fresh food, sales of alcohol and particularly items adorned with the Union flag are expected to sell well.“
However, retail analyst Clive Black, of investment firm Shore Capital, warned: “If the weather is poor, it’s bound to put a dampener on the occasion – literally. “But if it’s glorious, we are set to spend hundreds of millions of pounds on party food and souvenirs.
“Overall, we’re probably talking about £1-2billion in sales.”