15 years ago: 2011
In the month that Molson Coors acquired Sharp’s Brewery for £20m, Punch began trialling 3D projectors for football screenings, described at the time as a “first” for pubs.
Diageo launched trials of frozen and layered cocktails at selected UK bars, including a Smirnoff frozen mojito and a layered serve using Morgan’s spiced rum.
Licensees of the Sportsman in Arundel, West Sussex, a Top 50 Gastropub, were left shocked when their quarterly electricity bill jumped from £800 to £20,000 after supplier E.ON discovered it had been reading the meter incorrectly. Licensee Rob Wilson said: “It seems very unfair to charge us now because it is their mistake. If I undercharge someone for a pint or a meal I can’t ask them for the money a few months later.”
The same month, a father and son were ordered to pay £116k in fines after being found guilty of screening Premier League football matches at 11 pubs via the internet. At the time, it was a record penalty and the first prosecution for streaming matches online rather than using a foreign satellite decoder.
The Home Office also issued new guidance to help pubs and door staff identify fraudulent ID. The 44 page document outlined how to verify passports, driving licences and Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) cards.
Elsewhere, Kate Middleton invited her local pub landlord to her wedding to Prince William, the Scotland Patients Association debated whether intoxicated patients should pay for A&E treatment, and Russia formally classified beer as an alcoholic drink for the first time.
10 years ago: 2016
In February 2016, wet led pubs in Wales avoided a proposed ban on vaping, while JD Wetherspoon left customers “devastated” after confirming it would remove traditional Sunday roasts from its menus.
The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) announced that Mike Clist, formerly of Fuller’s, would assume the role of managing director from 1 April. The BII said the newly created role formed part of a “lean structure” aimed at maximising value for members.
There were further senior moves as Julian Momen was appointed chief executive officer at Carlsberg UK, replacing interim CEO Michiel J Herkemij.
Food safety also made headlines. An investigation was launched after a customer at one of Greene King’s Metropolitan Pub Company sites found a “giant” shard of glass inside a chicken burger, and Wetherspoon apologised to customers at its Albany Palace pub in Trowbridge after a diner complained that “a rat ran up his trouser leg and took a chip out of his hand”.
JDW spokesperson Eddie Gershon said: “We can confirm that two rats were spotted in the pub last night. We are aware that one of the rats took a chip that had fallen on the floor from a customer’s meal, but can’t confirm the fact that it ran up a customer’s trouser leg.”
BrewDog entered the spirits market with the launch of its Lone Wolf distillery, which, a decade later, the business confirmed in January 2026 that it would discontinue.
The month closed with 30,000 pub goers taking part in an attempt to break the world record for the largest multi venue pub quiz, while a Skegness pub went viral for creating a Smirnoff Ice and Guinness hybrid.
5 years ago: 2021
In another month dominated by Covid lockdowns, the BBPA reported that 87m pints of beer may have been wasted during the pandemic, costing the industry £331m.
The trade reacted to reports that the Government was considering a temporary “booze ban”, while Sacha Lord launched a legal challenge over restrictions on wet led pubs.
At the time, Lord told The Morning Advertiser (MA): “Following our legal challenge into the fairness of the lockdown measures on the hospitality sector, we were informed yesterday by our legal team that we do have a case at the High Court... We believe this is a measure which actively discriminates against the poorest and most disadvantaged sectors in our society.”
Rumours then emerged that hospitality would reopen outdoors only from April 2021, with indoor areas permitted from May. The trade criticised the reports, calling for greater honesty and clarity from Government on a roadmap out of the third lockdown.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson later confirmed reopening would take place in stages. He said: “We need to go cautiously. Last year, we opened up hospitality fully as one of the last things we did because there is obviously an extra risk of transmission.”
Concerns also grew for the future of the UK’s late night sector, after an APPG for the Night Time Economy inquiry warned it was at risk of extinction. It found that 55% of nightclubs had been unable to trade at all during the pandemic, 92% had traded for six months or less, and venues were operating at just 5% of pre Covid annual revenue.
February 2021 ended with the Government offering grants of up to £18k to help pubs survive until restrictions were lifted, while also launching a review into the potential use of vaccine passports for entry into pubs.
