{"id":3796,"date":"2023-09-25T09:54:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-25T09:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/?p=3796"},"modified":"2023-09-27T09:26:42","modified_gmt":"2023-09-27T09:26:42","slug":"trade-news-september-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/index.php\/2023\/09\/25\/trade-news-september-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Trade News – September 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

STONEGATE \u2018DYNAMIC PRICING\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Stonegate Group, owned by the private equity firm TDR Capital, has introduced what they call \u2018dynamic pricing\u2019 (also called \u2018surge pricing\u2019) in 800 of their 4,500 pubs. The policy is mainly being applied at weekends. This is not a new tactic; they have used it previously for major sporting events (such as the 2018 and 2022 football world cups) when prices were increased by amounts ranging from 20p to \u00a31. They are apparently displaying \u2018polite notices\u2019 which explain that the increases are to cover \u2018additional requirements\u2019 such as \u2018additional bar and door staff, the use of extra cleaning and plastic pint glasses and satisfying and complying with licensing requirements\u2019. These are nothing unusual; they are all basic regular staff duties and so you have to wonder if the purpose of this practice is simply to deter customers so that the company does not need to employ more staff to cover busy times.<\/p>\n\n\n

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In July Stonegate put a portfolio of eleven pubs in London on the market on a \u2018sale and leaseback\u2019 basis. This involved the pubs being leased back to Stonegate for 25 year terms. All of the pubs were corner sites, with a total value around \u00a316 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WYCHWOOD TO CLOSE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having closed Jennings, sold off the Eagle Brewery (Bedford) and put the Ringwood Brewery on the market, the Carlsberg Marston\u2019s Brewing Company (CMBC) have now decided to close the Wychwood Brewery in Witney, Oxfordshire. CMBC say that they will continue to brew the Wychwood brands elsewhere within the group. A process of elimination means that this can only be at the original Marston\u2019s brewery in Burton on Trent or the Banks\u2019s plant in Wolverhampton. The closure will take advantage of a break clause in CMBC\u2019s lease on the site in November. CMBC\u2019s chief executive, Paul Davies, was quoted in the Propel Newsletter as saying, \u201cBy making use of the break clause in our lease for Wychwood Brewery, we can consolidate our brewing network to achieve greater efficiency and productivity, supporting ongoing investment in our people and business.<\/em>\u201d In response, CAMRA\u2019s national chairman, Nik Antona, said, \u201cCarlsberg Marston\u2019s Brewing Company\u2019s proposal to close Wychwood brewery in Witney this November is the latest in a growing list of casualties at the hands of global brewers. Whilst it is heartening to know that the Wychwood brand will continue in some fashion at CMBC and the iconic Brakspear Double Drop beer will live on at Banks\u2019s, it is a great shame for Oxfordshire to lose such a classic, recognisable brewery. Fresh off the heels of closing Jennings brewery in Cumbria and selling off Ringwood brewery of Hampshire, it is worrying to see the UK\u2019s brewing heritage slowly erode. The diminishing consumer choice at the hands of the commercial giants is of great concern<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CMBC, of course, brew the Young\u2019s beer brands. After the sale of the Eagle Brewery it was rumoured that production had been moved to Ringwood and then to Wychwood. Any information as to what is now to happen to them will be gratefully received.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WETHERSPOON\u2019S NEWS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a fair amount of activity to report so I will restrict it to bullet points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n