Mixed message over festive trading

Brewers received their Christmas bonus with a whopping 18 million extra pints sold over the festive period.

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) calculated the figure by canvassing information from its 71 members which include brewers and pub companies.

Spokeswoman Karen Kelshaw said: "Over 130 million pints were consumed over a four-day period alone.

"New Year was the busiest with the extended opening hours but it has been a good festive season generally."

However, while brewers have been reaping the rewards licensees have reported mixed trading, with some losing out as people chose to drink at home.

A poll currently running on thePublican.com has revealed that 48 per cent of licensees estimate that trading over the festive period was down on last year, while only 35 per cent have so far reported an increase in business.

Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations, blames competition between the big grocery players.

"Supermarkets have definitely hurt trade over the Christmas period. The high discounts they offer does affect trade and encourage people to drink at home rather than go to the pub."

Danny Fox, licensee of Rick's Bar in Greenwich, London, said: "Trade is definitely worse than last year. It was pretty poor business for us in the run up to Christmas.

"We close over Christmas and New Year as it doesn't boost our trade at all."

However, Tony Adams, from the Golden Slipper in York, said: "We had an excellent Christmas and New Year. Before Christmas trade was up and while the New Year's Eve snow may have put some people off we still had a bumper season."

The gales and heavy rain that forced the cancellation of many outdoor Hogmanay celebrations were far from being an ill wind for the Scottish pub trade.​

Many revellers looking for shelter found a warm welcome at the pub, boosting trade on one of the key social occasions of the year.

Stuart Ross, chief executive of the 190-strong, Dunbar-based pub group Belhaven, said: "Hogmanay was definitely a case of every cloud has a silver lining. Our pubs were exceptionally busy on New Year's Eve. With so many organised outdoor events cancelled, people were looking for an indoor alternative to see in the New Year."

Mr Ross was himself in a pub in Edinburgh, where the weather forced the last-minute cancellation of a free street party and fireworks display. "At 11.45 the pub suddenly became very crowded," he said.

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