Arkells cuts prices in wake of Budget

Arkells Brewery in Swindon is to cut the price of its own-brewed beers in time for the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

The reduction is in response to the introduction of a sliding scale for beer duty in last month's Budget.

"We are delighted to be able to pass on the reduction we received in full to our customers," said managing director James Arkell (pictured)​.

"The Chancellor's tax cut on beer was on a sliding scale, based on production, with microbrewers receiving the full benefit. As we brew under 30,000 hectolitres a year we are eligible for some of the cut in duty, but only the much smaller microbreweries will be able to claim the full 14p reduction. We are sorry we weren't eligible for the full reduction and that the threshold wasn't 200,000 hectolitres."

The price reduction will take effect from June 1 across all 101 Arkells pubs in Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and Berkshire.

"We are happy to pass the reduction on to our customers and hope they will celebrate the fortunes of the England football team in style with a pint of Arkells real ale," said Mr Arkell.