Holts: Not Tonight Darling

Manchester-based brewer and operator Joseph Holt is to absorb the 2% duty hike for all of its 130 pubs and 200 freetrade accounts until 1 July.

Holts is following the example of the Brakspear and Palmers in freezing prices in a move that now adds pressure to the big pubcos to follow suit.

Holts is displaying posters promoting its price freeze under the headline "Not Tonight Darling".

"We see this as an amusing way of poking fun at the Chancellor as well as helping our many customers," said chief executive Richard Kershaw.

"Pubs play a vital part in the local community yet nationally six are closing every day with more than 2,000 gone in the last year.

"At a time when the rest of the economy is getting a helping hand, the beer and pub industry is being singled out in punitive fashion.

"This current 2% rise comes on top of the unprecedented 18% increase in beer tax imposed by the Chancellor in 2008.

"In addition, the Chancellor has already announced that beer duty will increase 2% above the RPI in each of the next 4 budgets.

"This so-called duty escalator must be scrapped as part of a co-ordinated plan to save the Great British Pub."