Brewery hosts talk to discuss industry issues

A Birmingham brewery has hosted a roundtable discussion of issues facing the industry.

In 2025, 320 breweries closed and only 170 opened, resulting in a net loss of 150. Furthermore, the beer industry estimates about two pubs closed every day in the first quarter of 2026.

On Wednesday, Birmingham independent brewers met two local MPs in a bid to get more support with business rates and high costs. Hours later Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that pubs, clubs and live music venues in England would get a 20% business rates cut, from April.

The meeting was held at Attic Brew Co, which has been running successfully for eight years and employs 50 people.

Owner Sam Back said: "We've grown over tenfold since we started and we've constantly reinvested the whole time.

"We've been very fortunate to have a lot of local support and our regulars love us.

"We've just invested that back in to keep us growing and keep employing local people."

Back anticipates the brewery will double in size over the next year and a half.

Sam Back said his brewery had grown tenfold since its founding eight years ago [BBC]

The discussion was held at Attic Brew Co, which employs around 50 people [BBC]

Taking part in the roundtable were MPs for Birmingham Selly Oak and Birmingham Northfield, Al Carns and Laurence Turner.

Carns, who has four breweries in his constituency, says the brewing trade is good for society.

"They come together, they have a beer, they socialise and they build community," he said.

"In some cases alcohol in excess can be bad but it can also be a huge or really effective glue that sticks the country together."

Turner told the BBC: "It's hard for independent producers to actually get their products in.

"I think that's something we can really push on because the Competition and Markets Authority hasn't looked at this issue for about four decades.

"I think it's well overdue for this matter to be looked at."

Barry Watts says breweries and pubs make a real difference to local communities [BBC]

The pub and hospitality trades employ more than 200,000 people in Birmingham alone.

The government said the business rates cut measure was estimated to cost about £100m a year and would be funded by a review of tax reliefs given to certain businesses.

It would take effect from April, saving the average pub about £1,100 in tax next year, No 10 added.

Reports have circulated that the new prime minister might promote so-called "sin taxes", seeing an introduction of a minimum unit price of alcohol and restricting availability as part of the health agenda.

Speaking before the announcement of a reduction in business rates Barry Watts, from the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates, said Burnham had been "saying the price of a pint is really important to him".

"He wants to look at supporting our community pubs and businesses that make a difference to the community, and breweries and pubs make a real key difference to our local communities," Watts said.

"So I think he really understands that. We've just got to wait and see what action he's going to take."

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