How Berkshire breweries fared during the pandemic
The number of breweries in Berkshire has plummeted during the pandemic, following a tough year for business.
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal that there were around 10 local units brewing beer in Berkshire in March 2021.
This was down from the 15 breweries operating in the region in March 2020.
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The drop was driven by a drop in the number of breweries in Windsor and Maidenhead, with the number falling from around five to less than three.
Elsewhere in Berkshire, the number has remained stable.
The situation in Windsor and Maidenhead bucks the national trend, which has actually seen the number of breweries increase over the past year, suggesting businesses in the area have been hit harder than others. other regions of the country.
In the UK, there were 1,545 beer brewing units in March 2021, down from 1,420 the previous year, and a record high.
The number had fallen by 1,440 breweries in March 2019, which was the first time the number had dropped in at least the past decade – but the recent increase suggests the brewery boom is not over.
The vast majority of brewers are what the ONS calls micro businesses – those with less than 10 employees.
The number of micro-enterprises remained at 1,180 in March 2021, as did the number of medium and large brewers, but the number of small brewers (with 10 to 49 employees) increased significantly, from 195 to 315.
The long-term small business boom is partly due to an increase in the popularity of craft beer, with a growing demand for more choice and specialty options such as vegan or gluten-free beer.
The craft beer revolution has also been fueled by what is known as “small brewer relief” (SBR) – a tax break introduced in 2002 by then Labor Chancellor Gordon Brown.
However, the more recent increase in the number of breweries may have been affected by the pandemic.
During pub and bar closures, many people have turned to ordering online to try craft beers at home – with customers particularly keen to support local and independent businesses.
Meanwhile, some new brewers may have decided to turn their passion for beer into a business after being laid off or furloughed.
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Nik Antona, CAMRA National Chairman, said: “After the struggles of the past two years, it is good to see the industry continuing to show resilience against all odds.
“The pandemic has had a massive impact on brewers who have had to be nimble and innovative to meet the new challenges of lockdowns, restrictions and loss of consumer confidence – from offering on-the-go services to expanding online deliveries.
“However, these numbers do not mean we can rest on our laurels – the industry is still vulnerable. There are still lingering issues around cost of goods, lack of trade tariff relief and important details that need to be resolved as part of the liquor duty review.
“That’s why CAMRA continues to call on the government to lower the threshold for the new draft duty rate to apply to containers of 20L and above, so as not to exclude small independent brewers from the benefits. a reduction in the tax on beer served on tap.”
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