Here, a few cask beer producers have their say on what they’d like to see come Wednesday 26 November when Rachel Reeves delivers her second Autumn Budget.
Joseph Holt chief executive Richard Kershaw told The Morning Advertiser (The MA): “Cask and other draught beer, which is principally sold in the on-trade, account for around one third of the total beer market and is taxed at a different rate to bottles and cans of beer, which are predominantly sold in supermarkets.
“I see the Budget as a great opportunity to help cask beer and provide badly needed support to our licensees, by lowering the duty on draught beer.
“We are fortunate to have, in our Joseph Holt Bitter, a very popular cask beer. However, we are still seeing sales decline and it is even more important to ensure that our customers receive a quality pint every time.”
JW Lees managing director William Less-Jones told The MA, pubs and breweries needed targeted support from the Government to help keep the cask beer segment alive, though he added the “mood music was not encouraging”.
Not expecting much
He continued: “I don’t think anyone is expecting much from the Budget but our priority list would be [for the Government] to reverse the changes to business property relief announced at the last Budget, go easy on the minimum wage and aligning it for all over-18s, do something meaningful on business rates, don’t increase duty and don’t kill fruit machines.”
The managing director of the Manchester-based brewer and pubs operator also urged the Government to avoid any more “penny off per pint of draught beer” comments as stated during the previous Budget because this does not help the sector.
“Do something that really helps the trade like reducing employers’ national insurance contributions or VAT”, he implored.
Shepherd Neame chief executive Jonathan Neame said: “It has been a challenging period for the hospitality industry, as we have had to absorb additional taxes and labour costs.
“We call on the Chancellor to cut business rates and not increase taxes in the upcoming Budget.”
Last month, Ossett Brewery managing director Edd Simpson said a major issue for cask is that customers fail to notice it on the bar.
A survey carried out by the Yorkshire-based brewer and pub operator found only 10% of drinkers could remember seeing the cask beers that were available throughout its pub estate.
Can’t be overlooked
Simpson said at the time: “One of the biggest issues is visibility. Handpulls often sit too low or are hidden while lager and craft keg dominate at eye level.
“Yet, cask delivers exactly what today’s drinkers want: heritage, authenticity, provenance and craftsmanship in abundance. For the category to thrive, it cannot be overlooked simply because it isn’t seen.”
Meanwhile, earlier this year more than 40,000 people signed a petition to recognise the production and serving of cask ale as Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The petition, which was created by award-winning beer writer Johnny Garrett, stated: “Cask ale is unique to the UK – a historic and traditional production and serving method.
“We believe its flavour and texture is unrivalled anywhere in the world and can only be consumed in pubs with specific equipment and expertise.”
The Government responded: “The Government is setting up an inventory to recognise intangible cultural heritage in the UK. We will open a public call later this year and would welcome a submission on cask ale.”
