Britain’s biggest pub co offers pre-lockdown pints for 95p

In a bid to reduce the beer wastage from a new national lockdown in the UK, and hopefully cheer up the punters, Britain’s largest pub company, Stonegate, has announced a three-day sale of all cask ale with pints for just 95p across its whole managed estate.

The offer of cut-price cask ale follows the Government’s announcement at the weekend that all pubs must close during the national lockdown, with the deal only valid from the start of this week until Wednesday 4 November.

Helen Charlesworth, managing director of Stonegate Pub Company, drew attention to the need to act fast to avoid wastage, while highlighting the hugely damaging impact of yet another lockdown on pubs, which are not only responsible for fewer than 5% of Covid-19 transmissions (according to Public Health England), but have also invested on average £10,000 per outlet (according to the BBPA) on making themselves ‘Covid-secure’.

He said, “Once again, the hospitality industry is being told to bear the financial brunt of further regulations in the Government’s response to COVID-19. Given the short notice, this 95p pint sale is to ensure minimal wastage of product across our estate. Cask ale only has a shelf life of a few days once its tapped and spiled, and in March the British Beer and Pub Association estimated that over 70 million pints of beer were poured down the drain.”

He added, “We also would prefer our customers to enjoy the beer – responsibly, of course – rather than pouring it away. Just like in March, our pubs will continue to be at the centre of their communities during this lockdown and we look forward to reopening as soon as possible and enjoying the Christmas festivities together. ”

Following the acquisition of Ei Group on 3 March 2020 for £1.27bn, Stonegate Pub Company is the largest pub company in the UK. Its portfolio is comprised of 1270 sites within the managed division and 3200 leased and tenanted businesses.

The managed pubs division, which employs 17,000 people, is split into ‘branded’ and ‘traditional’ pubs. The former is comprised of: Slug & Lettuce, Walkabout, Be At One and Venues. Traditional (unbranded) pubs are made up of: Proper Pubs, Town Pub & Kitchen, Classic Inns, Common Room, Craft Union and Bermondsey Pub Group.