Hugely important pubs do not run dry – BBPA’s Brigid Simmond
The capital’s pubs and restaurants have a huge part to play – London Mayor Boris Johnson
“It is hugely important that pubs do not run dry and beer is kept flowing, despite road closures, for Olympic lanes and local roads” – this was the key message this morning, from British Beer & Pub Association Chief Executive Brigid Simmonds, who opened a seminar for key organisations in Brewers’ Hall in the City. In a message of support to the event, London Mayor Boris Johnson said that pubs and restaurants have a “huge part to play in making sure the millions of visitors and Londoners heading out to enjoy themselves have a fantastic time throughout the Games.”
This morning’s BBPA-hosted conference, sponsored by Transport for London, sets out to identify and overcome the key logistical challenges facing brewers, pubs and others as they plan to keep pubgoers supplied with food and drink throughout the capital in 2012.
London’s hospitality sector faces many challenges during the Olympics. The Olympic Route Network stretches through most of central London and also to outlying venues. There will be road closures and turnings changed, with special night-time deliveries and out-of-hours deliveries, with big staffing implications for London’s 5,000 pubs and other businesses, which serve 62 million pints of beer to London’s pubgoers and visitors, every month.
Opening the seminar, BBPA Chief Executive Brigid Simmonds said:
“The Olympics are a golden opportunity for The UK’s pubs. We must work together to overcome the inevitable difficulties, and maximise the potential for increased trade, ensuring that all of our customers receive the high level of service they expect from our pubs.
“I am passionate about sport. Winning the right to stage the Olympics in London is one of the most important things which has happened during my lifetime.
“For overseas visitors, visiting a British pub is always near the top of the list of reasons to visit the UK. I am sure we will have some Olympic and Paralympic beers, and with teams from 200 countries competing in the UK alongside some 30,000 unaccredited journalists, we have a real opportunity to showcase the UK and British beer and pubs to the world.
“It is hugely important that pubs do not run dry and beer can be properly distributed despite road closures for Olympic lanes and local roads.”
In a message of support to today’s event, London Mayor Boris Johnson said:
“London is gearing up for one of the most amazing summers this city has ever seen. The capital’s pubs and restaurants have a huge part to play in making sure the millions of visitors and Londoners heading out to enjoy themselves have a fantastic time throughout the Games.
“The industry also has a great opportunity to benefit from this unique opportunity so I’m delighted to see them thinking ahead and preparing for the excitement and challenges the summer will bring. By working together with London councils and Transport for London they can make plans now that will keep their tills rolling and their customers coming back for more.”
Notes to editors:
Brigid Simmonds is Chairman of the Tourism Alliance, which comprises some 50 trade associations in the tourism and hospitality sector, representing 200,000 businesses. She is also past chairman and Director of the Sport and Recreation Alliance – the umbrella body for all Governing Bodies of Sport, and received an OBE in 2006 for services to sport.
TfL has produced guidance on out of ours deliveries (hyperlink).
The British Beer & Pub Association is the UK’s leading organisation representing the brewing and pub sector. Its members account for 96 per cent of the beer brewed in the UK and own nearly two thirds of Britain’s 52,500 pubs.
Web: www.beerandpub.com
Twitter: @brigidsimmonds
For further information please contact:
David Wilson: Public Affairs Director Tel: 020 7627 9151
Neil Williams, Communications Manager Tel: (020) 7627 9156 / 07974 249 779
Gareth Barrett, Public Affairs Officer Tel: (020) 7627 9154
Neil Williams
Communications Manager
British Beer & Pub Association
020 7627 9156
07974 249 779