Pubs cry into their beer over 99p pint
Landlords fear for their futures as they struggle to compete with a pub giant's 99p pint offer.
Community pubs say there is no way they can match Wetherspoon's, which has slashed the prices of drinks at its pubs.
The pub is selling pints of Greene King IPA ale and bottles of San Miguel lager for under a pound – and says the price drop is 'indefinite'.
Landlords who are struggling in the wake of the smoking ban and already competing with cut-price supermarket booze offers say the offer is unfair.
Graham Deacon, landlord of the Brass Monkey in West Street, Fareham, is in the same road as Wetherspoon's pub the Lord Arthur Lee.
The Crown, three doors up, which closed before Christmas, is also being taken over by Wetherspoon's.
Mr Deacon said: 'Our equivalent of IPA is Old Speckled Hen, and I have to buy that at 1.36 a pint from our brewery, and it's 1.11 for a Corona. I can't do it any lower.
'That price includes VAT, and then when I sell it, that includes VAT again, so we get done both ends. It's really unfair on publicans at the moment – the government is trying to destroy us, and we've got this as well.
'The Crown has been bought by Wetherspoon's and they're going to turn it into a Lloyds No 1, so this is a worry.'
Pubs taking part in the 99p deal include five in Portsmouth, and one each in Port Solent, Fareham, Gosport, and Havant. It also includes cheaper wine, rum and cider.
Mark Weyman, co-owner of the Bird in Hand in Lovedean, near Horndean, which recently reopened, said: 'I think this could end up making pubs close.
'For those that have heavy rents and have to compete with Wetherspoon's, it could definitely contribute to them going under.'
And landlord David Kehoe-Pank of the Old Vic, in St Paul's Road, Portsmouth, said: 'We can't even buy it at those prices, as we're tied to the brewery.
'I don't know how they can do it; it could be a loss leader, or maybe they're cutting profits to a bare minimum. I think it's just a way of getting people through the doors.'
Lew Lewis, of the Portsmouth branch of CAMRA, said: 'It's what Wetherspoon's have always done – they get a good deal from the breweries.
'It is a problem, though, and you could say that it's not fair on other pubs.'
Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock said: 'Although this is good for customers, it's hopeless for competition in the pub trade.
'I think it's a bit unfair of Wetherspoon's, and I think they are probably doing this as a loss-leader. I think it will cause even more disruption in a trade which is going through a tough time right now.'
JD Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: 'We wanted to do it for our customers, and we obviously hope it will have a positive effect for us too.
'We don't think Wetherspoon's can make decisions based on its effect on others in the business – if we had to consult all the other pubs and keep them happy we would never get anything done.'
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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