Welcome to this week's Pint-Sized Update 🍻

Last week, our Long Live the Local campaign launched brand-new research looking at the attitudes of young people towards the pub.

With pubs providing a vital lifeline for communities all across the country the Government must work with us on permanent business rates reform, cut beer duty and VAT.

The first long weekend of the year saw pubs pour an additional 2.8m pints in a £14m boost to the British economy.

We also saw more Brits than ever choosing moderation, as No and Low sales approached one million over the bank holiday.

"A fully interoperable scheme remains the best way of delivering a DRS that works for both Welsh consumers and local businesses"

Our response to yesterday's Senedd vote on DRS 👇

"Not only is Saint Patrick's Day a perfect time for communities to come together, it also provides a fantastic boost for pubs up-and-down the country."

Click the link below to read our coverage in the Daily Star: lnkd.in/ejxP7ywa

OPINION: Why accessibility should be a priority for every pub A new BBPA guide urges pubs to prioritise accessibility, highlighting the legal duty to make reasonable adjustments and the commercial opportunity of the Purple Pound. With more than one in five peopl...

"They are places that belong to everyone and should be accessible to everyone"

Following the launch of our updated Accessibility in Pubs Guide last week at the Gun, Spitalfields, Emma McClarkin OBE penned an op ed for the The Morning Advertiser.

www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Article/2026...

Our Director of Strategy and Policy Andy Tighe spoke with BBC News about the issue of customers bringing their own drinks into pubs.

"They provide places to go where often there isn't a lot of places for people to go and connect these days."

Earlier today our Director of Strategy and Policy Andy Tighe sat down with BBC Radio Three Counties to help break down the challenges that continue to face pubs.

"What does an Accessible Pub mean to you?"

Visit our website to give our guide a read: beerandpub.com/policy-campa...

Our response to today's Spring Statement 📣

“A win for pubs, jobs and community spirit.” 🍻

We’re delighted that pubs in England and Wales will be able to stay open for any home nation’s knockout match during this summer’s World Cup. ⚽

We predict that an additional 12m pints will be poured throughout the Six Nations tournament, delivering a £60m boost to the sector.

Welcome to this week's Pint-Sized Update

"They are the future of our sector."

Today marked the tenth Hospitality Apprenticeship Showcase in Parliament, bringing together apprentices, employers and MPs from across the UK.

A huge thank you to all the apprentices who showcased their skills and shared their stories.

"We know that there has been a rise in women going to the pub and I think it’s because they’ve fundamentally changed"

Over the weekend, Emma spoke with Metro about how pubs are evolving to become more modern, welcoming spaces for everyone.

This week, we made the case for pubs loud and clear.

From national coverage on rising alcohol duty to shaping the conversation on business rates reform, we’ve ensured the voices of brewers and pubs are heard where it matters most.

Thank you to Russell Findlay MSP for standing up for our sector in the Scottish Parliament this week.

Pubs in Scotland remain at a disadvantage following the Scottish Government's Budget, leaving many on a knife's edge with one venue set to close each week.

The Welsh Government's announcement on business rates will not undo a long line of decisions that have disadvantaged Welsh pubs.

These changes make it so a pub in Wales could now be facing bills double that of its English counterpart, which will be a hammer-blow to publicans across the nation.

Beer duty rose for pubs this weekend for the first time since 2017.

For brewers already facing some of the highest duty rates in Europe, this increase piles further pressure onto razor-thin margins - putting at risk one of the UK’s most celebrated industries and the world-class beers it produces.

Still not sure what last week’s U-turn really means for pubs? Let’s break it down.

"You can have the beautiful taste of beer and still be in the pub with your friends."

We spoke to the BBC talking about the boom of No and Low beer and how moderation doesn't have to mean isolation.

With thanks to our fantastic member Lucky Saint for hosting us at their beautiful pub🍺

Welcome to this Week's Pint-Sized Update

Following the Government's U-turn on business rates and the support package announced for the industry, we've worked fast to break down what these changes will mean for pubs up-and-down the country.

This support will provide real relief to publicans and help protect the vital role pubs play in their communities.

In the wake of the Government's decisive rethink on business rates for pubs, our CEO Emma McClarkin spoke with BBC Radio 5 Live's Wake Up to Money to help break down what these changes will mean for pubs up-and-down the country.

This pub-specific support will provide much-needed certainty for tens of thousands of pubs, with many seeing their bills frozen or falling - a real relief for publicans across the country.

Something we can all raise a glass to 🍻

With the Licensing Hours Extension Bill passing through the House of Lords at the end of last week, we would like to thank each and every peer who supported this small but impactful change to our licensing system.

🥁"We're delighted that Lord Watson, @andrewranger-mp.bsky.social, and Government, have made it easier for pubs to be right at the heart of moments of national significance.”

Today the Licensing Hours Extensions Bill, which we've backed, passed its Third Reading at the House of Lords.

"The reality is that profit hasn't gone up because of increases in costs across the board"

This morning, our Board member Chris Jowsey, CEO of Admiral Taverns, spoke with BBC Radio 4's Today Programme to discuss the potential impact of the sector's new business rate bills that are set to land.

"We could see in Wales alone business rates increases of 91% by 2028/29"

Ahead of the Welsh Budget, Emma spoke with BBC Radio Wales to explain the plight facing the nation's pubs.

"Pub owners across Wales are already burdened with crushing taxes and business rates, but the proposed changes will place them in an impossible position.""

Read our mention in BBC Wales here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...