Beer

Figures found: 2020 saw the number of breweries fall by to 1,816 - down on 2019 but this rose for 2021 to 1,902 (image: Getty/Stefano Gilera)

Brewery numbers rise after 2020 drop

By Nikkie Thatcher

The number of total independent breweries has increase to 1,902 in 2021 from 1,816 in 2020, new figures have found.

What beers are going to be driving growth in pubs?

Opinion

Premium vs standard beer - more balance needed on the bar

By Mark Bentley, on-trade category controller, Molson Coors

Anyone reading the trade press or listening to various data & insight experts would be forgiven for thinking that everyone is now drinking premium drinks and that familiar favourites such as core standard lager brands have had their day.

Unique product: cask ale is typically British and can't be recreated outside the pub (credit: Getty/urbancow)

Don’t undersell cask beer – it can’t be replicated at home

By Gary Lloyd

“There’s nothing like this.” Some of the more ‘seasoned’ readers may remember this as a hit song for soul singer Omar 30 years again when it peaked at number 14 in the UK music charts. However, the statement also rings true of cask ale.

Lots to choose from: new products hit the market in time for autumn

New products round-up

Stay ahead of your rivals with these new products

By Gary Lloyd

Vocation’s chocolate and banana stout, TOWIE star’s Prosecco, BrewDog’s Planet Ale and Bankhall Sweet Mash bourbon are among the latest new products.

Leading the way: (left to right) Jaega Wise, Clement Ogbonnaya and Lorraine Copes

Where are black leaders in the pub and brewing sector?

By Gary Lloyd

The hospitality industry provided work for some 1.8 million people when the pandemic struck last year, of which 17% of the total workforce from the black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) category was represented.

Rising cost: the average price of a pint of lager has increased by 78p in the past 10 years (image: Getty/Juanmonino)

Average cost of a pint rises 2.1% since 2020

By Nikkie Thatcher

The average cost of a pint of draught lager has increased by 9p since August 2020, according to official figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

Always a winner: Guinness is synonymous with sport, especially rugby

Promotional content

Autumn International rugby was made for Guinness

By Diageo

With sporting events back in action, there is a fantastic chance for operators to re-engage with multiple occasions and cater for the pent-up demand for quality on trade experiences.

Stock up now: this week's new product launches

New products round-up

Bumper week for new product launches

By Gary Lloyd

Cask Hobgoblin IPA, three vodkas from Masons of Yorkshire and Fuller’s Vintage Ale are among the new products to hit the market this week.

Expert session: The panel is in support of Cask Ale Week

Theakston unites cask and craft with virtual panel event

By Michelle Perrett

Yorkshire brewery T&R Theakston is set to bring together leading figures from the beer and hospitality trades through a discussion panel, entitled “Cask Meets Craft” to be held on Friday, 1 October at 6pm.

Survey says: drink-led occasions made up nearly half of pub visits, according to Lumina Intelligence (image: Getty/LauriPatterson)

Almost half of pub visits are wet-led

By Nikkie Thatcher

Two in five (42%) visits to pubs are for drink-only occasions, while almost a quarter (24%) of trips to the on-trade are for dinner, new research has revealed.

Tax change: the temporary reduced VAT rate of 5% will rise to 12.5% from 1 October (image: Getty/Jonathan Knowles)

Price of a pint could rise by 25p predicts Sacha Lord

By Nikkie Thatcher

Night-time economy adviser and operator Sacha Lord estimated prices of drinks will go up by between 7% and 10% with the average price of a pint set to rise by 25p, in line with the 7.5% VAT increase to cover the overall losses felt by operators.

Illegal activity: kegs are the target of theft by organised crime (image; Getty/urbancow)

Exclusive

Kegs caught in supply crisis

By Michelle Perrett

Keg supplies are being hit by the transport crisis that is ravaging the pub and hospitality sector.

What is happening for Cask Ale Week?

Pubs urged to celebrate Cask Ale Week

By Michelle Perrett

Pubs are being urged to celebrate Cask Beer Week, which runs from 23 September to 3 October, to help boost trade in the wake of the pandemic.

Increase approved: the beer delivery drivers have accepted the new 4% pay offer (image: Getty/Monty Rakusen)

Draymen pay dispute settled

By Nikkie Thatcher

A pay dispute from 1,000 beer delivery drivers has now been settled after they voted in favour of accepting a higher pay offer.

Plan change: the strike action has been called off while a ballot over the new pay offer takes place (image: Getty/zoranm)

Beer delivery driver strike suspended

By Nikkie Thatcher

The planned strike action by 1,000 draymen, which was set to take place this week and next week has been postponed, following an improved pay offer from GXO Logistics Drinks.

Down the drain: many brewers have been forced to throw beer away during the coronavirus pandemic, with pubs being closed for a large proportion of the past year and a half

SBR changes leaves small brewers in limbo

By Nikkie Thatcher

Small independent brewers in the UK have been left in limbo, a year on from the Treasury’s changes to Small Breweries’ Relief (SBR), one trade body has warned.

Start date: the social media campaign launches next week (Monday 19 July), coinciding with lockdown measures in England being relaxed

Campaign launched to champion cask beer

By Nikkie Thatcher

A social media campaign has been created, coinciding with lockdown measures being relaxed in England, to help highlight the importance of cask beer.

Number crunching: the British Beer & Pub Association predicts more than 7m pints will be sold during the England v Italy game this weekend (image: Getty/Jonathan Knowles)

Pubs to lose out on £9m during England v Italy

By Nikkie Thatcher

While 7.1m extra pints are expected to be bought on during Sunday’s UEFA Euro 2020 final on Sunday (11 July), due to ongoing restrictions, the trade will miss out on £9m in beer sales, it has been predicted.

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KENT - HIGH QUALITY FAMILY FRIENDLY PUB

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Busy location on coastal main road Extensively renovated detached public house Five trade areas (100)  Sizeable refurbished 4-5 bedroom accommodation Newly created beer garden (125) Established and popular business...

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