Craft Brew to a pub near you.
The ‘beer tie’ meant that breweries or pubco-owned pubs could lock their tenant publicans into buying their beer at inflated rates.
Now, a ‘rent only’ scheme will mean publicans can freely choose their beer at a lower price, which is good news for any craft breweries out there.
Anspach and Hobday are an ambitious young brewery but haven’t supplied many London pubs with their beer because of the tie.
“We used to do tastings at our local pub. We couldn’t sell them any beer because they’re tied. I think it’d be lovely if we could go sell them some beer,” said Paul Anspach, who is one of the head brewers.
This could mean more publicans forming relationships with the craft beer market and independent breweries.
Founder of the Fair Deal For Your Local Campaign, Mark Dodds, worked for 10 years to help push the amendment through Parliament. He’s found opposition from Pubco giant Punch Taverns. They say the change will have adverse consequences for community pubs, warning that thousands could close. Mark disagrees.
“It’s alarmist nonsense designed to scare people. If you look at the number of pub closures every year now and compare that to the numbers pubcos say will close as a result of it, it is the same."