On top of this morning's news that sales of beer have dropped to their lowest level in the UK since the Great Depression in the 1930's - a warning has come that beer prices face above average inflation next year and we could even see the first £4 pint.
This is not the news that the pub trade needs. Already this morning Britain's second largest pub operator, Enterprise Inns, has predicted a tough year for pubs in 2008. Next year could see a situation where prices are up, sales are down and the market is saturated with identical food offerings cannibalising each other's sales potential. It could turn out to be a bit of a car crash.
It appears that the pub trades woes next year will stem in brewing. This summer's poor weather has forced up the price of hops and the brewers are going to have to pass on the price rise to their customers and we could see the kind of price inflation usually reserved for idiots who buy houses on TV property shows. No wonder the BBPA has called, again, for a freeze on beer tax particularly as under New Labour beer duty has increased by 27% while consumption has fallen by 11%.
Still, it is easy to become a harbinger of doom in the pub trade, and it is worth remembering that there is still plenty of money to be made running boozers. Take our Adopted Business - Peach Pubs - which will make its debut in this Thursday's edition of Caterer. Its seven pubs throughout the Midlands and the Home Counties have an average turnover of £25,000 a week. This is a staggering figure, particularly when you consider the fact that in 2006, Britain's 57,500 pubs turned over £16.35b, or £5,468 a week. Any business doing five times the industry average must be worth paying attention to and any publican looking to stay peachy next year would be wise to keep following them.
Comments (3)
Is it any surprise that boozers are selling less beer than ever? They are simply turning into restaurants. It's harder than ever to find a place to simply go for a drink these days. You either go to a pub for a meal (i.e. a restaurant) or you go to watch televsion (i.e. a sports bar).
I've always found smoke hard to take, and used to go to the pub for a beer, then pop outside for a breath of fresh air now and then. But smoke was somehow exotic. Last weekend, in Marple, Cheshire, I popped outside to admire a cold, clear night, and was followed by the landlord, who told me that the local council would fine both me and him if I drank outside.
I feel less and less welcome in pubs these days. Laws are destroying pubs, and I spit on the dirty, disgusting prigs who are doing it. I would rather endure drunks and smokers.
Posted by Andrew Denny | November 20, 2007 8:25 PM
Posted on November 20, 2007 20:25
While I cannot condone spitting (it is banned in China for good reason)I've never found it difficult to find a pub for a decent pint. Many do food for good reason but I've always found the bar staff to be quite agreeable when it comes to serving me a pint.
Posted by Christopher Walton | November 23, 2007 5:21 PM
Posted on November 23, 2007 17:21
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Posted by bob | January 15, 2010 6:41 PM
Posted on January 15, 2010 18:41