Soaring temperatures are pushing beer sales

Pubs and brewers have been reaping the rewards of the scorching temperatures with an extra three million pints consumed over one weekend alone.

With temperatures hitting record levels the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) said the good weather has increased weekend beer sales by one million pints a day, swelling takings by more than £5m.

"The hot weather is always great news for anyone selling or brewing beer. The more the sun shines, the bigger the smile on the faces of the nation's brewers and landlords," said Mark Hastings, director of communications at the BBPA.

"Traditionally, when we experience above-average temperatures and more hours of sunshine, beer sales increase by at least one million pints a day."

However the hot weather has been bringing mixed trading for licensees across the country. A poll on thePublican.com has revealed that while 53 per cent of licensees are seeing an increase in trade because of the hot weather, most of these are licensees with pub gardens who are able to cash in on the scorching temperatures. Forty-eight per cent are seeing a downturn as people are staying away from hot pubs with no outside facilities.

Anita Adams, licensee of the Maltings pub in York, said: "In the hot weather people want to be outside. There has been a slight downturn in trade as we have no-where to sit people outside."

Duty manager Mark Tobin of Wetherspoon's Prince of Wales pub in Cardiff said: "The hot weather has been good for us. The beer garden is busy every day. At the weekends it has been standing room only and lager and cider sales are up."

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