Responding to news of further rail strikes across the Christmas period Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association said:
“The week of the strikes is usually the busiest of the year for our industry, but instead of being able to trade normally for the first time in three years, pubs in towns and cities across the UK are now seeing swathes of people rearranging Christmas parties and cancelling bookings, and news of further strikes from Christmas eve has only added to the dire situation.
“These were bookings our pubs desperately need, COVID was unbelievably tough but what we’re facing now with spiralling costs and people watching more and more what they’re spending is hitting businesses even harder. Pubs really need this Christmas trade to see them through the quieter months that follow, especially after two years of restrictions, but now it’s becoming increasingly difficult to see how many will make it through until Spring because December trade is being decimated. People aren’t confident they’ll be able to travel next week and so it’s almost too late now to save the festive season from ruin for pubs.”
ENDS
For more information or to arrange an interview contact Jessie Powell at jpowell@beerandpub.com / 020 7627 9199
Notes to editors:
- December is the busiest month of the year for UK pubs in which they earn a significant portion of their annual takings – equivalent to £2.3bn for the month and, for many that particular week would usually be the busiest of the entire year, with £582m usually made across the industry in the week of the proposed strikes themselves.
About the British Beer & Pub Association
The BBPA represents UK companies which between them brew over 90% of the beer sold in the UK and own 20,000 pubs.
Our members include international companies, national and local brewers and pub businesses operating managed and tenanted pubs in cities, towns and villages across the country.
These businesses are at the heart of communities and local economies and include family businesses who have been brewing beer and running pubs for hundreds of years alongside emerging brewers and pub operators.
- The UK’s beer and pub industry supports close to 940,000 jobs
- The industry adds £26.2billion to the UK’s economy each year
Press release from the BBPA
For more information or to arrange an interview contact Jessie Powell at jpowell@beerandpub.com / 020 7627 9199