Pubs could run out of BEER for Bank Holiday: Landlords warn they may have to shut by the weekend with pumps running dry 'in days' after lorry driver strike hit supply chain

British boozers could be running dry by the August bank holiday after a strike action by lorry drivers caused severe supply chain issues.

Around 1,000 draymen, who between them are responsible for around 40% of beer deliveries to pubs in Britain, voted in favour of industrial action over their pay this summer. 

The pingdemic has also contributed to declining numbers of available lorry drivers, resulting in severe shortages of beer, wine and bar snacks.  

Despite the industrial action being resolved earlier this week, pubs across the country are already desperately low on stock, and watering holes owned by the larger chains are the worst affected due to their reliance on imported beers. 

Landlord Ian Ward, of The Spring Vale Inn, in Chadderton, Greater Manchester, said: 'We're really low and may have to shut Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.'

John Wray, owner of the Venue, in Bolton, Greater Manchester, said: 'There's a growing concern we could run out.'

Campaigners warned bars owned by the larger chains are the worst affected due to their reliance on imported beers

Birra Moretti, Heineken, Stella Artois and Kronenbourg are among the brands whose stock numbers are severely down

A representative from brewer Heineken said: 'It will take some time to get the network back to capacity,' and many venues and pub owners warned of the shortages via social media.

The Rising Sun in Rochester, Kent, said via Facebook: 'I just want to make all customers aware that the next few weeks the pub industry has been hit with many issues behind the scenes.' 

Other pubs have resorted to offering substitute beers in a desperate attempt to cover for the shortages. The Old Black Horse in Mapperley, Nottingham, warned they had been forced to substitute some of their customers' 'favourites'.

'Birra Moretti may be substituted with Peroni. Strongbow dark fruit, Laguntas and Heineken are other products facing shortages and thus substitution.

'This is due to last AT LEAST a week or two into September. Sorry for any inconvenience.'

Meanwhile, bar staff and hospitality workers have already begun to face aggressive behaviour from disgruntled customers.

The Fox and Hounds pub in Clavering, Essex, reported that the absence of some beloved beers resulted in customers 'swearing and shouting' at bar staff, despite members of the management team hiring vehicles and completing trips of hundreds of miles to secure extra stock by hand.

The drivers of GXO Logistics Drinks, which has 26 delivery sites across the UK and accounts for 40 per cent of all beer delivered in the country, voted for strike action after they were offered a 'paltry' 1.4% wage increase. 

24-hour strikes were planned for August 24 and September 2, before GXO Logistics Drinks settled on a 4% pay increase with representatives of The Unite Union earlier this week.

Despite this resolution, the damage has already been done for many pubs who have stated they may have close on weekends and turn off taps for many popular beers.  

The Fox and Hounds Pub in Clavering, Essex, said on Facebook it was struggling with the shortage and it had left customers rowdy

 

The Rising Sun in Rochester, Kent , also admitted facing supply issues, writing: 'I just want to make all customers aware that the next few weeks the pub industry has been hit with many issues behind the scenes'

 

Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association Emma McClarkin pointed firmly at the shortage of lorry drivers for the issues. 

'The HGV driver shortage is being felt by our sector like so many others.

'Brewers and their logistics partners are working round the clock doing all they can to ensure deliveries. 

But the Unite Union argued that the initial 1.4% pay increase offered by GXO Logistics Drinks did not even account for inflation, and said drivers had lost tens of thousands of pounds due to unpaid overtime and furlough.  

James Calder, Chief Executive of the Society of Independent Brewers, took the opportunity to urge pub owners to support local breweries amid the shortages by buying up regionally-produced beers.

'Amid fears of taps running dry, pubs, bars and restaurants should look beyond mass-produced beers from the Globals and speak to their local independent breweries,' said Calder.

'Being local they have the flexibility to brew and get beer directly into venues up and down the UK.

'British independent breweries are producing some of the best beers anywhere in the World and can be found across every corner of the UK.

'They are brewing a hugely diverse range of styles from lagers and pale ales, to porters, stouts and of course, cask real ale.

'The UK's independent brewers are ready and waiting to fill the supply gaps we're seeing.'

Despite draymen returning to work following their pay increase, the hospitality sector is facing considerable shortages across the board due to dwindling numbers of available workers, due to the pingdemic and pay cuts. 

The Government temporarily extended drivers' permitted working time from nine to ten hours in an attempt to increase the amount of distribution by a smaller number of workes, but the The Road Haulage Association says 100,000 more HGV drivers are needed across the country.