We Need to Save our Pubs!
Our pubs are in trouble. We have been hearing this for a long time, but now they really are in trouble. They need your support.
When the hike in NIC’s, and the increase to the Minimum Wage, collides with a cut back in spending by the Great British Public, landlords find it very difficult to make the numbers add up anymore. That is what happened in September. Pubs are now closing at the rate of one every day, and the prospects look dire if nothing changes before very long.
Ahead of Rachel Reeves Autumn Budget on 26th November, there is much lobbying of Government going on by those trying to persuade them to act to save the British Pub.
The Government has set up a Licensing Task Force to investigate the matter, and under the chairmanship of Nick Mackenzie, CEO of brewers Greene King, the Task Force have made four principal recommendations:
- An extension to Opening Times and easing of procedure.
- An extension, if not a reform of Business Rates Relief for pubs.
- Employment incentives to offset the National Living Wage costs.
- A review of Excise Duty for cask ale.
The chair of UK Hospitality, Kate Nicholls is calling for:
- The lowering of Business Rates for pubs, bars and restaurants.
- A review of NIC’s for hospitality.
- A cut in the VAT paid by pubs.
Pre-eminent beer writer, Roger Protz, has written an Open Letter to Rachel Reeves, pleading for her intervention to save the pub and British Beer.
In a recent survey of Great British Icons ‘the pub’ and ‘British Beer’ were both right up there alongside the Royal Family.
The CEO of the British Institute of Innkeeping, Steve Alton, is at pains to point out that pubs are “places of connection, careers and community. They bring people together in ways few other spaces can”.
If you are so inclined, please make a trip to the pub.
Long Live the Pub!
WINNER, WINNER
Very often (and deservedly so!) our brewery customers pick up awards and commendations for their beers.
We don’t make too much fuss as it would be a simply enormous list to include each newsletter, but we are always delighted for them, and proud too.
That being said, we must acknowledge that one of our customers’ beers has recently been the recipient of the title:
‘Worlds Best Bitter’
by the World Beer Awards.
Huge congratulations to the team at Triple FFF.
What an achievement!
And we’ll take a tiny bit of credit for supplying the malt. 
Tea and Cake, and Charity
Our ‘Teas in the Garden’ events this year were, as always, a wonderful opportunity to show off The Maltings but also an opportunity to raise valuable funds for a local charity.
We have chosen, for the second year running, to support the recently rebranded Beyond Dementia (formally Alzheimer’s Support) who provide such excellent support to those living with dementia.
Unfortunately, due to the great British weather, the last event in September was a bit of a wash-out but we also held a couple of tours of The Maltings where donations were welcome, and we are delighted to have raised a grand total of £929.
Thank you to everyone who came along for their generosity, and support.
We hope to see even more of you at ‘Teas in the Garden’ next year.
The community in Chitterne (near Warminster) have recently acquired and refurbished The King’s Head on behalf of the village. We have appointed really good tenants who have made it a welcoming place to come and enjoy a pint and they are serving great food. The pub is well supported, but the more the merrier so do come and see for yourselves. You won’t be disappointed.