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Spoilt beer: trade bodies share advice that pubs must follow in order to successfully claim credit on beer duty

Licensees can claim duty credit on wasted beer

Operators can claim credit for ullage on unsold beer, which could potentially save pubs “a fortune”, it is understood.

Pubs warned lock-ins illegal

Pubs have been warned that it is illegal to host lock-ins under the Government’s social distancing measures and they could risk their licence being revoked.

Loan red tape standing in the way of pub security

Businesses looking to borrow less than £250,000 under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) will now not be asked for personal guarantees but operators are still having to jump through hoops to access the funds.

Music licensing company suspends payment for closure period

UK music licensing company PPL PRS has said it will not charge customers for their music usage during their closure period and will adapt its payment policies.

Daily Bulletin - Tuesday 31 March

The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington delivers a rundown of the latest news for pubs in regard to coronavirus including the welcomed good news that pubs can claim back duty credit for wasted beer.

Can you get another job if you have been furloughed?

While it is hoped that workers across the hospitality sector will be able to return to their jobs within a few months, The Morning Advertiser has taken a look at what options there are for pub staff who have been furloughed.

Dipping into tax funds ‘only option’ for many self-employed

A financial expert has said many self-employed publicans will have no option but to use the funds saved for tax to pay immediate bills after Chancellor Rishi Sunak revealed his plans to help self employed people last night (Thursday 26 March), set to...

• LIVE – Experts answer your on-trade questions

Have you got a question about your on-trade business that you can’t find an answer for even though you’ve searched online and listened to Boris’s daily updates? Perhaps The Morning Advertiser can help.

BrewDog co-founders forgo 2020 salary

Scottish brewer and operator BrewDog co-founders James Watt and Martin Dickie will be sacrificing their salary for 2020 in a bid to protect jobs at the business amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Palmers Brewery gives retrospective rent reduction

South-west-based operator Palmers Brewery has given its licensees a retrospective rent reduction of 50% for the month of March, before Covid-19 hit the industry, along with no rent payable for April.

Things to know about the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

The Government has set out more details around its job retention scheme, which was announced by the Chancellor, to help businesses that have been severely affected by coronavirus.

William Grant to add two Olympic swimming pools’ worth of ethanol to hand sanitiser effort

The maker of Glenfiddich, Monkey Shoulder and Hendrick’s gin has pledged 5m litres of ethanol to the hand sanitiser production drive in order to combat the spread of coronavirus.

Self-employed can receive up to 80% of average profits from June

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has outlined the Government’s plans for self-employed people, with a taxable grant that will cover 80% of individual’s earnings and begin in June.

Campaign stops £2m of food going to waste

Wholesalers and other food bodies have joined forces to prevent produce such as cheese, milk, fruits and meat from going to landfill now the hospitality sector has been shut down.

Does your insurance cover you for coronavirus?

With many insurance companies claiming the protection operators took out is unlikely to be valid for a business interruption such as coronavirus, Cornerstone Barristers’ Philip Kolvin looks at whether you are covered or not.

Shepherd Neame puts 85% of workforce on stand-by

Brewer and pub operator Shepherd Neame has announced its plans for staff payment, which includes asking 85% of its employees to not work and a temporary salary reduction for higher paid staff who are still working.

Alcohol and furniture stolen in raid on GK pub

Police have blamed travellers of breaking into and damaging a recently refurbished Greene King pub, and for taking alcohol and furniture.

St Austell makes no redundancies

South-west-based St Austell Brewery has announced its plans for a temporary staffing structure including not making a single redundancy amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

£15m City Pub Group share offer to offset coronavirus impact

City Pub Group has revealed that it has raised £15m from the successful placing of 30,000,000 new ordinary shares today (27 March).

Castle Rock offers ‘emergency fund’ for vulnerable staff

Nottingham-based brewery and pub group Castle Rock has launched a hardship fund that will give eligible members access to a “small pot of money” should they need it in an emergency.

PODCAST: Why one pub stayed open and one shut during the coronavirus outbreak

Two operators talk about the realities of operating or closing their pubs during the coronavirus pandemic in a special edition of The MA Podcast, which looks at the state of the on-trade amid the chaos.

‘People and cash flow will get us through’

A focus on the team and cash flow is how North Bar/North Brewing Co is weathering the storm of Covid-19, co-founder Christian Townsley told The Morning Advertiser.

Growing support for #UnitedWeStand campaign

As pressure continues to mount on the challenged hospitality sector, the organisers behind industry campaign United We Stand are delighted to announce soft drinks giant Britvic as the latest supplier to back the cause.

Finance expert’s fears over coronavirus loan scheme

A business finance specialist believes the Government’s Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) may be making the same mistakes that a previous scheme did when it was launched a decade ago during the financial crisis of 2009.

Shift availability drops by almost 80% in a month

The number of shifts available to workers in the hospitality industry has fallen 76.6% in the past month, showing the impact Covid-19 has had on the sector, new research shows.

Thieves target closed pubs for alcohol and cash

Closed pubs, restaurants and shops have become “easy pickings” for thieves during the coronavirus lockdown and operators are warned to reinforce their defences.

Care for draught lines vital when forced to shut cellar

Experts have issued advice on how best to close down the cellar with tips on keg, cask and postmix drinks as well as what to do when it is time to reopen again.

Pubs can still operate food and drinks takeaway and delivery services

Pubs will still be able to offer food and drinks (including alcohol, subject to licensing conditions) delivery and takeaways while closed to the public, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has confirmed to The Morning Advertiser.