Pubs must sell 'extra million pints an hour' to cover costs

THE HOSPITALITY sector needs to sell almost one million extra pints every hour to cope with a £1billion costs surge thanks to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ tax hikes, the CEO of BrewDog has warned.

- By Jon Robinson

James Taylor, who took on the job earlier this year, said Reeves needs to take “meaningful action” because of the rise in energy bills, labour costs and her own tax hikes.

The Scottish-based company wants to see reforms to business rates and relief on beer duty in next Wednesday's Budget week, as well as “a review of the cumulative cost burden that is threatening the viability of thousands of UK pubs and breweries”.

BrewDog is also calling on Reeves to consider temporary VAT relief for hospitality companies “to protect jobs and sustain local economies”.