A year on from the first Covid-19 lockdown, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has revealed the devastation the UK’s brewers and pubs have faced.
The trade association estimates that 2,000 pubs have been lost forever to date, 2.1 billion pints in beer sales lost due to a full year of either forced closure, or trading under severe restrictions, and £8.2bn in trade value wiped out from the sector in beer sales alone.
Last month, the government unveiled its roadmap indicating that pubs will reopen outdoors only from 12 April at the earliest, followed by indoors from 17 May at the earliest, with all restrictions hopefully lifted by 21 June.
Whilst the BBPA welcomed continued support for the sector in the most recent Budget, in the form of £2bn worth of measures including grants and furlough support, it stated that longer-term investment in the sector was still needed.
It also expressed concern for wet-led pubs who would not be able to take advantage of the VAT cut for hospitality, which only applied to food, soft drinks and accommodation, and urged the Government to provide more support for these community pubs.
Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: “Our sector has been devastated by Covid-19 and the lockdowns. It has been a year to forget for the Great British Pub.
“Sadly, we still haven’t seen the full extent of the damage yet and won’t do for some time until things really do go back to normal. And by normal, I mean a return to what life was like pre-Covid.”
NAM Implications:
- Suppliers unfortunately cannot wait…
- …’until things return to normal’.
- i.e. they have to take a working stance re future business.
- Say conduct a what-if on a permanent reduction in pub-trade of 30%?
