Another 'kick in the teeth' for pubs as Covid freedoms end

Britain's struggling pubs have suffered a “kick in the teeth” with the ending of the automatic right to sell a takeaway pint. Pubs will not be able to serve takeaway pints unless their alcohol licence explicitly states this is permitted.

The “al fresco” reforms were introduced during the pandemic and Tories say that “killjoys” in the Labour Government have “pulled the rug” out from under pubs by allowing these Covid-era “easements” to expire at the end of this month. Under the measures, licence-holders who had only been permitted to sell drinks on-site were allowed to sell alcohol for takeaway and delivery.

The end of the pandemic freedoms come amid strong concern about pub closures. The Beer and Pub Association claims the equivalent of six pubs closed each week last year. Tories warn the plight of pubs is about to get even harder, claiming the average pub in England will “pay £5,519 a year more in business rates” and the average restaurant will have to stump up an extra £7,073 – with the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions also piling on costs.

Barry Watts of the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates said: “The ability for pubs, taprooms and small breweries to automatically sell takeaway beer was a lifeline during Covid, helping them to survive through the pandemic. At that time, small breweries lost 80% of their sales overnight and one in four didn’t have an immediate way to sell directly to the public.

“Making this permanent would have allowed pubs and brewers to trade more flexibly, streamlined bureaucracy and helped hospitality businesses to grow. Now instead of serving their customers takeaway pints they’ll have to join the back of the queue to change their licence.”

Kevin Hollinrake, the Shadow Secretary of State for Communities, accused Labour of waging a “war on pubs”, saying: “For all their talk of cutting regulation, the Labour Government are hammering local pubs with higher taxes and more red tape. The takeaway pint and pavement licence were one of the few good things to come out of the Covid pandemic.

“It is a kick in the teeth for pubs to take away these popular rights, and is another blow from Labour’s war on pubs. Only Conservatives are campaigning to save the local.”

Ash Corbett-Collins, chairman of the Campaign for Real Ale, said: “Community pubs are facing a tough time and need all the help they can get so they can survive and thrive.”

He said the campaign is “disappointed that the Home Office isn’t keeping laws which automatically give pubs in England and Wales the ability to sell take-home pints or set up tables on the pavement outside their premises”.

He added: “Although the Government’s plans allow pubs which already use these rights to keep doing so through an easier and cheaper process with local councils, we would urge the Home Office to think again and keep these rights for all pubs as standard.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The vast majority of pubs will be unaffected by these changes, and we have changed the rules so that it is simpler and cheaper for the small minority of pubs which are affected to vary their licences so that they can continue selling takeaway pints in exactly the same way they do now.

“We have also made clear that if we see any evidence that those pubs are being denied the opportunity by local authorities to vary their licences so they can continue selling takeaway pints beyond 31 March 2025 without reasonable cause, then we will not hesitate to make further changes to the licensing regime.

“Creating economic growth and supporting the nation’s pub trade remain key priorities for this government, and we are taking action to support them not just through simplifying the rules on licence variations, but also by introducing a permanent, new lower business rate from 2026.”