Brakspear Pub Company to absorb Budget tax hike

29th April 2009, 3:33pm

Brakspear Pub Company has undertaken steps to absorb the 2% increase in beer duty announced in last week's Budget, on all Brakspear beers supplied to its 145 pubs.

The price freeze will be held until the end of 2009.

Commercial director Tom Davies said: "Alastair Darling dealt a wounding blow to the pub trade on Wednesday with yet another hike in beer duty. By absorbing the impact of this latest rise, we are enabling our tenants to hold their Brakspear beer prices when many other pubs will be forced to impose a further increase on customers who are already feeling the recessionary pinch."

The decision to hold beer prices comes hot on the heels of Brakspear Pub Company's announcement last month that it would match any move into negative RPI in the rent charged to its tenants on index-linked rent agreements, and reflects the company's stated aim of building long-term businesses with its tenants, rather than focusing on short-term gains.

At the Duke of Wellington in Twyford, Reading, tenant Bill Suter said: "Beer prices in the pub have gone up and up over the past year and customers can't keep on spending in the current economic climate. Being able to hold the price of our ales means we'll be a few pence cheaper than other pubs and that can only help us. It's a good show of support from Brakspear and we appreciate it."

Related Articles:

• 02 Feb 2010 - Brakespear pub group extends its beer list
• 26 Jan 2010 - Brakspear Pub Company launches new website
• 09 Sep 2009 - Best Brakspear pub summer gardens announced
• 28 Apr 2009 - Beer sales continue to slide
• 24 Apr 2009 - 'Chancellor has missed an opportunity', says BHA
• 22 Apr 2009 - Industry react angrily to the Budget
• 22 Apr 2009 - Pub lets customers 'Barter for Beer' to beat recession
• 21 Apr 2009 - 'We have 48 hours to save the pub industry'
• 20 Apr 2009 - New WSTA chairman warns Government over tax increases
• 20 Apr 2009 - 90% of public want taxes reduced or frozen in Budget
• 09 Apr 2009 - Brakspear supports first FemAle Day
• 20 Feb 2009 - Beer quality award for Brakspear pubs

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