Today marks the delivery of the first King’s Speech in 72 years, a moment of anticipation for the beer and pub sector, which hopes for a positive impact.
King Charles has been a staunch supporter of the nation’s pubs. Just last year, he addressed the significant challenges faced by pubs due to the pandemic and called for public support for these establishments in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide.
However, recent times have seen the pandemic and the cost of living crisis place considerable strain on communities and, by extension, the pubs at the heart of these communities.
Over the past decade, there has been a 15% decline in the number of pubs, with hundreds shuttering their doors each year. If current trends continue, we may witness another 18% decrease by the time King Charles celebrates his tenth anniversary on the throne.
A recent report from the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) titled “Inn-Valuable: Unlocking the Socio-economic Potential of our Nation’s Pubs” has made the following key findings:
81% of people consider pubs as vital in bringing people together.
75% of people believe pubs have a positive impact on their communities.
68% of British adults see pubs as instrumental in combating loneliness.
In this context, the BBPA is urging the government to take immediate action in support of pubs. Their demands include extending small business rate relief and preventing pubs from facing a £250 million increase in their business rates bill this coming April. The BBPA also calls for a commitment to no further hikes in beer duty.
