Whitbread confirms consumer slowdown
Publicly-quoted pub stocks were hit hard on Tuesday after Whitbread's preliminary results confirmed a consumer slowdown in the pub-restaurant sector. Stocks were down by an average of 3%. Alan Parker, chief executive of Whitbread, said that there were "signs of a less confident consumer", which meant "growth in like-for-like sales has slowed" increasing by 1.3% on last year.
New Use Classes Orders now in force
The new Use Classes Order planning regulations came into force on 21 April. Under these regulations, pubs will be classed as A4 and restaurants and cafés as A3. There will be no automatic change-of-use consent for premises wishing to convert from A3 to A4 as the Government seeks to restrict the number of new pubs opening. Experts believe there will be problems deciding at which point a pub becomes a gastro pub or restaurant, which could in turn affect letting values.
Budvar gets EU protection status
Budweiser Budvar has joined the likes of Cognac, Champagne and Parmigiana cheese by gaining Protected Geographical Indication status from the European Union. The award is made only to top-quality food and drinks products manufactured in the region indicated in the product's name. Budweiser Budvar is only brewed at source in Budweis or Ceske Budejovice utilising the brewing skills of local inhabitants and using the highest quality local raw materials. The award will have no bearing on its on-going trademark dispute with American Budweiser.
Hosts urged to join Mild Month fun
The Campaign for Real Ale is urging licensees to stock at least one mild style beer in May as part of its Mild Month celebrations. "Camra branches will hold a whole host of activities to support this style of beer, with many pub goers having fun seeking it out across the country," said spokesman Georgie Rudman. To help highlight that Mild is an endangered beer style, Camra will run a "Spot a Mild in the Wild" competition to complement the campaign's promotional material. For a free promotional pack contact Samantha Jones on 01727 867201 or at samantha.jones@camra.org.uk
Foster's production a correction
Scottish Courage has asked the Morning Advertiser to point out that is has never brewed Foster's at the former Mansfield Brewery or elsewhere. "Nobody else but us has produced Foster's in the UK", a spokesman said. The claim appeared in last week's Roger Protz column in which he quoted a spokesman from Wolverhampton & Dudley.
