But what were the big stories impacting on the trade this month (June) 15, 10 and five years ago.
The Morning Advertiser (The MA) has looked back at some of the challenges and stories impacting the sector.
15 years ago: June 2010
Things were pretty political with the relationships between tenants and pubcos were in the firing line.
So much so that union GMB was backing 60 hosts in legal cases against companies over lease issues and Brulines fines.
The political climate continued with rumours circulating about potential changes to the Licensing Act but the new licensing minister John Penrose said there was “no agenda” for penalising responsible pubs.
However, it was mooted by Government advisors that pubs should be legally obliged to protect public health.
It might not seem like a big story now with the world of social media but a London licensee was attracting quality customers by accepting bookings via social networking site Twitter.
Interestingly, pub staff were also urged to keep their condom machines well stocked as they prepared for a huge influx of customers due to the World Cup.
10 years ago: June 2015
This year there was a community pubs minister. The minister Marcus Jones assured the industry he would be a proactive supporter of pubs despite concerns about the perception of his predecessors.
The good news was that the minister was soon seen taking a proactive approach by visiting the opening of The White Lion in Stockingford.
The industry was still in the throw of a clampdown on showing Premier League matches without a licence. Six more pubs across the country were ordered to pay £55,000 in costs for breaching Premier League copyright.
While two brothers were jailed for a total of 11 years for admitting conspiracy to burgle 60 pubs.
Interestingly, a new report claimed that pubgoers ranked higher quality food as the number one reason they would visit pubs more often.
Five years ago: June 2020
The country was in grips of a recovery after the lockdowns due to Covid-19.
This month pub closures stabilised in the H1 2020 despite the March lockdown.
But all was not rosy as a group of licensees, pub campaigners and small brewers joined forces to create a mass membership group called the Campaign for Pubs as the on-trade prepared for life after lockdown.
A raft of pub groups announced plans to reopen after lockdown. Shepherd Neame revealed plans to open 200 pubs, Greene King said it would open three-quarters of its pubs on 6 July, St Austell announced more than 100 pubs would open on 4 July weekend, while Butcombe would open pubs from 8 July.
There was disquiet about the information coming from Government about how to handle lockdown and reopening. Hawthorn Leisure CEO Mark Davies said the Government needed to stop “dithering” on pub sector guidance.
Meanwhile 1m employees were expected to return to work in July.
- See The Morning Advertiser’s lookback over what was shaping the sector in May 15, 10 and five years ago here.
