Brains Brewery closes all pubs and cancels Christmas Day bookings following new Welsh Government COVID restrictions

In a statement the brewery thanked everyone who had supported them but said that remaining open under the new restrictions was not a viable option.

The statement said: “Following yesterday’s announcement by the Welsh Government, confirming the news of further restrictions to the hospitality industry across Wales, it is with a very heavy heart that we have made the decision to close our doors from 6pm this Friday 4 December and will not be reopening until further notice.

“Remaining open under the new restrictions is not a viable option, and therefore the decision to temporarily close has been a very difficult but necessary business decision to make, in order to protect the long-term future of our pubs.

“For our customers who are booked in for Christmas Day Lunch, as we are unable to guarantee what restrictions we will be under at this time, and in order to give you the opportunity to make alternative arrangements for what is an important family time we will be cancelling all bookings for 25^th December 2020.

“Please bear with us, as we will be in contact with all our customers who are booked in for Christmas Day over the next few days.

“We really can’t thank you enough for all your support through these difficult times. We are confident that with such loyal and supportive customers we will come out of this period fighting and ready to safely serve you all again, in the very near future.

“On a much more positive note, we will continue to open as normal this week and look forward to seeing you all for a pre-Christmas pint!”

Responding to the news that pubs in Wales will be banned from selling alcohol and forced to close at 6pm, The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) National Chairman Nik Antona said: “Restrictions that force hundreds of pubs to close and devastate trade for those able to remain open to serve meals could be the final straw for Welsh pubs and the breweries that supply them. 

“There is simply no evidence that a draconian alcohol ban will stop the spread of COVID-19. What is clear is that our pub culture is being used as a convenient scapegoat for the spread of the pandemic.

“This is a huge blow for businesses in the beer, cider and pubs sector that have invested thousands to make their venues COVID-secure and are now being hit at what would normally be their busiest time of the year. 

“The Welsh Government must publish the evidence that serving alcohol has been a factor in spreading the virus to justify these devastating restrictions and offer adequate financial support for the affected businesses. Otherwise, we risk losing Welsh pubs forever.”

(Lead image: Old Inn, Penllergaer – Brains Brewery)