Pub lets customers 'Barter for Beer' to beat recession

22nd April 2009, 10:14am

A London pub is helping its customers beat the recession by letting them barter goods and services for beer.

Landlady of The Marksman pub in Shoreditch, east London, Dawn Kolpin got the idea for the new scheme after advertising last month in the barter section of her local classified ads site Craigslist.

Punters were invited to swap a pub meal for a small stack of CDs by anyone from Perry Como to The Pogues.

The response to the ad prompted Dawn to place a second advert calling on Londoners to 'Barter for a Beer', including her list of things she'd like to swap for beer.

Her list of wanted items includes everything from a screwdriver set to wire cutters, serving trays and even a party pack of fake moustaches.

"It could solve the credit crunch at a stroke", said Dawn. "It's amazing what you can buy for a pint of beer."

Jim Buckmaster, CEO of Craigslist said: "The recession is fuelling a barter boom. The number of barter ads on Craigslist is up more than 100% in the last year."

Kolpin's pub will host a special auction-style bartering night on Budget day, 22nd April, complete with a "Barter Barker", calling for offers of goods and services in return for beer.

"I'll consider any offer that might make the pub better", says Kolpin.

Customers who would rather eat than drink can "barter-for-a-starter" or, indeed, a main course from the pub's menu of English and French food.

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