InBev on-trade chief says bartops need complete refit

Pubs are facing quality meltdown unless the trade addresses the "python war" underneath Britain's bars, according to InBev's new head of on-trade.

Steve Kitching, on-trade sales managing director at InBev UK, believes that the increasing battle for under-bar space and energy could severely compromise the quality of beer served in pubs.

"The current situation is simply unsustainable. It's become a real jungle out there," he said. "As more brands keep being added to the bar, brewers are coupling them into the existing system and are effectively 'stealing' space - the system can't cope. It's hitting overload and as a result most of the lines going through the python are not being sufficiently chilled."

InBev research has shown that seven out of 10 pints are now being served at the wrong temperature, despite the recent investment in extra cold technology.

Indeed, Mr Kitching believes the recent trend for extra cold has made this problem worse.

"The shift to extra cold is stretching the demand on outlets' limited under-the-counter space even further," he said. "There is an unequivocal need for more cooling capacity. We can't keep living in a 'one-python world'. I believe we've reached the stage now where the whole beer line system is in need of a complete refit."

This issue is increasingly coming to the fore. In November The Publican exposed problems existing between brewers offering extra cold technology and pub companies.

Many pubcos voiced frustration that the brewers were unwilling to share technology with each other - meaning if a pub wanted to offer three extra cold brands it would have to install three separate cooling systems.