Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Why brewer is toasting England’s Euro success
WEST Country brewing business Butcombe has experienced a surge in sales amid England’s success at Euro 2020.
The company, which is part of the Liberation Group and has a brewery in Wrington near Bristol, said beer sales were up 134% on this time last year.
In preparation for the football, the pub group brewed 2,550 barrels last month - equivalent to 730,000 pints which is the most the business has brewed since Christmas 2019, it said.
The news follows a positive 12 months for the company, despite the challenges of the pandemic.
In November 2020, Butcombe acquired 21 pubs from Wiltshire brewer Wadworth and in April this year, it was named the best managed pub company in the UK.
Jonathan Lawson, chief executive of Liberation Group, said the group’s pubs and venues across the West had been “full of people” in recent weeks and the company was looking forward to a “busy weekend ahead”.
The final of Euro 2020 is tomorrow with England taking on Italy.
“Firstly, huge congratulations to the England football team – what a boost for us all and especially for the hospitality industry,” said Mr Lawson.
“We’ve been busy behind the scenes brewing and making sure our sites are well stocked with beer and delicious food. We’ve got everything crossed for a win on Sunday – which would be a wonderful way to herald the return of good times for the hospitality sector.”
Covid-19 rules are currently set to be lifted on July 19, in what has been described as a “huge moment for hospitality”.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the UK had to “learn to live with” the virus, saying the pandemic was “far from over”.
He said: “We must be honest with ourselves that if we can’t reopen our society in the next few weeks, when we will be helped by the arrival of summer and by the school holidays, then we must ask ourselves: when will we be able to return to normal?”