Local Senedd member Samuel Kurtz recently toasted the success of Harbwr Brewery Tenby on a visit to learn about the creation of their locally and nationally enjoyed beer, as the UK Government announced a boost to the pub and brewing trade.
The family-run brewery and pubs are a thriving success in Tenby, supporting the fantastic tourism and hospitality that Pembrokeshire has to offer.
With the UK Government’s tax cut for 38,000 pubs, the simplification of alcohol duty and a new Small Producers Relief, the visit made a great opportunity to discuss these changes and their impact.
Harbwr's locally made, fantastic quality beers are yet another stellar example of what Pembrokeshire has to offer within the hospitality industry to both day visitors, and those visiting Wales for a longer period.
Commenting on the visit, Kurtz said: “Small independent breweries only thrive when love, care, and attention to detail are put into every single brew. That’s why Harbwr is such a success and draws revellers from all over to enjoy their beers in Tenby, or to order online via their website.
“Our local economy is made stronger by entrepreneurs, and here in Pembrokeshire we have some of the very best. With changes from the UK Government to support breweries and pubs, and the fantastic beers and pubs we have to offer, I hope we can all raise a glass to toast the great work they do in our local economy and local community.”
Speaking on the UK Government’s announcement, Barry Watts, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Society of Independent Brewers said:
“These are the most significant changes to the alcohol duty system for generations which will have far reaching implications for what we order in the pub and what appears on the shop shelves. It is the culmination of five years of consultation on the future of Small Breweries’ Relief – a scheme that has made the huge growth of craft breweries possible over the past twenty years. These changes will finally address the “cliff edge” which was a barrier to small breweries growing and build on the scheme’s success by applying it to other alcoholic products below 8.5%.
“A key part of the new system is the draught duty relief is a gamechanger for the sector and allows for the first time a different duty to be paid for what is sold to our pubs. This will hopefully over time encourage more people to support their pub which is at the heart of our local communities.”
