‘Get a grip’ on train strikes call from BrewDog boss

02-Jun-2023 - Last updated on 02-Jun-2023 at 09:01 GMT

Off track: BrewDog Bars CEO James Brown said week-on-week sales at its behemoth Waterloo site are down by 58%

BrewDog boss James Brown has demanded the Government “get a grip” of ongoing train strikes, which have lasted for almost a year, to save independent hospitality businesses.

The BrewDog Bars chief executive and founder of Tipjar used some of the Scottish brewer’s bars as examples of trade being hammered, which included week-on-week sales at its flagship Waterloo site down 58%; Seething Tap Lane near Tower Hill, London, down 76%; and Liverpool down 36%.

Brown said: “Train strikes. They hurt and they disproportionally impact hospitality businesses. BrewDog are fortunate that we have the scale to be able manage the pain over time and we can take a longer view on on-sales and profitability.”

Starved of oxygen

He continued: “Small independent pubs and restauranteurs who have to survive day to day are being starved of oxygen and are closing their doors at the fastest rate ever.

“This is terrible for the communities they serve and the millions they employ.

“UK Government need to get a grip of the situation and get to a resolution. The economic impact is huge and the devastating effect on independent hospitality businesses is too much.”

The RMT union, whose members have gone on strike today (Friday 2 June) claims the strikes have cost the UK economy £5bn, according to the BBC.

Saturday strike

Meanwhile, ASLEF union will hold a strike tomorrow (Saturday 3 June), which will coincide with the football FA Cup final at Wembley between Manchester United and Manchester City.

However, signallers and other Network Rail staff members accepted a pay deal in March, which has led to strikes having less impact – when the signallers joined the strikes, up to 90% of trains would be cancelled.

A snapshot given by Brown, who praised the sector for its resilience in opening new sites during Covid, showed the BrewDog bars below and their week-on-week sales drops: