Community pubs feeling the heat

Related tags Town centre pubs Public house Booker

Beer is growing at country and town-centre venues, but it's dropping at community pubs On average, freehouses sold 335 barrels this year, compared to...

Beer is growing at country and town-centre venues, but it's dropping at community pubs

On average, freehouses sold 335 barrels this year, compared to 332 in 2004.

The average number of barrels varies by type of pub, with town-centre outlets being the highest, more than 70% above country (the lowest) a pattern similar to that of the previous survey.

Expectations for next year are similar to last year, averaging 366 in 2005, compared to an anticipated 359 in 2004 although it's clear that licensees' hopes for 2004 failed to be realised.

There are again major differences by type, with town pubs foreseeing a rise to 522 barrels, buoyed by the hopes of trade newcomers who are the most optimistic about increasing beer sales.

While those who have been in the pub for two years or less expect an increase of 56%. Licensees who have been in the trade for 16 years or more are looking at decreases of at least 6% on average.

Waverley ousts Coors from top slot

... while freehouses predominantly look to local suppliers for their food

WaverleyTBS has leap-frogged Coors as the sector's top beer supplier, with Carlsberg in third, then InbevUK and Greene King.

Eighteen per cent of respondents are tied to beer suppliers in return for a discount (10%) or through a brewery loan (10%) with 2% having both. This compares to only 10% altogether in the 2004 survey.

Differences by type and size of pub are generally not significant, though 16% of town centre pubs have a discount and only 3% of those with a turnover exceeding £500,000 have a loan.

Wholesalers are used by 86% of those polled, similar to the 87% in the previous survey. As in 2004, Booker and WaverleyTBS are clearly the leading companies, followed at a distance by Matthew Clark and Makro.

However pubs with a turnover of more than £350,000 are the least likely to use them (79%).

Generally those pubs that use wholesalers think they are competitively priced 35% think them very good, 60% say they are good and only 5% think they are poor. Town centre pubs are more likely to be critical (14%) than other types.

Top five beer suppliers

1. WaverleyTBS

2. Coors

3. Carlsberg

4. InbevUK

5. Greene King

Top 5 food suppliers

1. Local suppliers

2. Booker

3. Brake Bros

4. 3663

5. M&J