Pubco Brakspear rejects 6p pint increase; holds beer price steady

Henley-based pubco and brewer Brakspear is holding the 6p per pint price increase imposed by some national brewers in January, it has announced.

None of the company's 129 tenants and lessees will see price increases on Brakspear brews, which include the Brakspear Bitter, Oxford Gold and Brakspear Special from the Wychwood brewery in Witney and the Bell Street Brewery in Henley-on-Thames.

The price hold is intended to keep pints as affordable as possible at a time when the pub industry traditionally sees a post-Christmas slump.

Tom Davies, Brakspear chief executive, said: "January is always a flat month for our industry, but at least our pubs will be starting the year with a price advantage on Brakspear beers.

"It's good that our tenants and lessees are able to offer [customers] their favourite pint at last year's price, rather than hitting them with an increase."
He added that beer prices had gone up by 3-3.5% in January.

Brakspear reported a 7% increase in sales on draught beer and cider by August last year, and is opening its second managed pub in Stow-on-the-Wold in September.

Brakspear opens second managed pub >>
Brakspear reports 7% increase in sales >>