More than three quarters of pubs experience glassware thefts

Of the 204 respondents, more than three quarters (77%) said they did suffer from glass thefts at their pub.

Research from catering equipment supplier Nisbets revealed more than 4m Brits steal tableware from a pub, bar or restaurant more than once a week.

Moreover, 3m Brits admitted every item of crockery, glassware, cutlery and soft tableware in their home was stolen.

It also found more than 37m Brits have stolen glasses from bars and restaurants in their homes. Based on two glasses costing £5, it equates to a value of £186m worth.

According to the data, almost one in five (17%) of people steal an item of tableware more than once a week, followed by those in Birmingham who steal something around once a week (13%).

Overall, 17m British adults (27%) revealed they had stolen tableware from a pub, bar or restaurant with the biggest culprits being 18 to 24-year-olds with more than a third (34%) admitting to their wrongdoings.

The 25 to 34-year-old age group were next at 31% while almost a fifth (18%) of over 54s said they were guilty of stealing the odd knife or bar glass.

Minimising the impact

While completely preventing customers from stealing small items is tricky, according to Nisbets, it advised there were ways to minimise the impact.

Holding an amnesty was one suggestion to help retrieve costly tableware while bringing customers through the doors, suggested a discount off a drink or meal in return.

This is something Scottish brewer and operator recently announced and called an amnesty for thieves of its Hazy Jane​, offering a free refill when customers return their glasses.

The multiple operator said the glass had officially become its “most stolen glass ever.”

Co-founder and chief executive James Watt said: “Now, we don’t really mind our customers stealing the occasional glass from our bars.

“In fact, if you are going to have a beer glass in your kitchen, we would actually rather it was a glass you plundered from a BrewDog bar versus a Carling, Stella or Foster’s glass.

“However, perhaps down to the fact our Hazy Jane glass is so beautiful so many have been stolen that we are now running perilously low.

“So, we are introducing the Great BrewDog Glass Amnesty. Over the next week, simply visit any BrewDog bar, return a Hazy Jane glass, which perhaps one of your friends maybe accidentally took home with them and we will fill up the glass with a delicious pint of Hazy Jane, for free.

“Or more precisely, in exchange for bringing the glass back. Who says crime doesn’t pay?”

Large number disappear

Founder and managing director of Baker Hospitality Piers Baker runs three pubs – the Sun Inn, Dedham; Church Street Tavern in Colchester; and the White Hart Inn, Mersea Island, all in Essex.

He said glass thefts were an issue but it correlated to how busy the pubs were.

Baker said: “In July and August, Church Street Tavern is generally quieter than other months.

“We had had glassware go in all sites. Burnt Mill Brewery provided us with brand new glassware, which was really appealing, given the logo and design.

“In all our sites, we have seen a large number disappear.”

Chef-patron of number one Top 50 Gastropub the Parkers Arms, Newton-in-Bowland in Lancashire Stosie Madi also reported issues.

She told The Morning Advertiser​: “Thank god for branded glasses. We once caught someone with six Guinness branded glasses in their backpack and they were cheeky enough to say they thought we wouldn’t mind because we had so many.

“We saw them in the beer garden collecting the glasses and we thought ‘how helpful’ only to see them start stuffing them into their backpack!”