BBPA estimates 18m pints will be served on National Hospitality Day

17-Sep-2021 - Last updated on 17-Sep-2021 at 08:48 GMT

Support your pub: the BBPA is calling on customers to get down their locals on National Hospitality Day (credit: Getty Images / Henrik Sorensen)

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has called for pubgoers to support their local this Saturday (18 September) to help hospitality businesses and claims pubs will serve about 18 million pints on the day.

Saturday is National Hospitality Day, which has been organised by sector charities to support hospitality businesses who were brought to their knees by the pandemic and help them get back on their feet.

It is asking the nation to ‘go out and help out’ the by visiting restaurants, cafes and pubs.

BBPA statistics show beer sales in pubs are 10% down on pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

Because of this, it said pubs are selling about two million pints fewer and losing as much as £9m in much-needed revenue on Saturdays alone.

Exceed typical takings

The trade body said if enough people go out and support the sector on Saturday, it hopes trade for the day will match, or even exceed, a typical Saturday’s trade before the pandemic, while also raising awareness of the support the sector still needs in its recovery.

Ahead of National Hospitality Day, the BBPA has been backing the Long Live The Local campaign, which calls for Government investment in pubs as part of the recovery to build back better, by reforming business rates, VAT and a cut in beer duty.

So far, more than 60,000 people have signed the petition calling on the Government to support pubs and breweries and 50,000 have written to their MP directly to ask them to support pubs in their constituencies.

Ahead of the Budget, now announced for 27 October, it is urging Chancellor Rishi Sunak to do the right thing and implement these measures to support the sector’s recovery.

Love for pubs as a nation

BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “Calling all pubgoers across the UK, go out and help out your local this Saturday for National Hospitality Day.

“This Saturday is all about showing support to our beloved pubs and hospitality businesses and helping them get back on their feet.

“If people go out and support their local this Saturday, we hope 18 million pints – maybe even more – will be sold. A big boost to our sector.

“If you have a local you love and cherish, I urge you to give them a visit this weekend, and beyond, to show your support.

“I hope the Chancellor will be watching this Saturday and see the love we have as a nation for our pubs. They have a vital role to play in building back better and driving growth in communities across the UK. But if they are to do this, he must invest in them at the Budget by reducing the unfair tax burden they face.”