‘It’s a huge relief’: Pub bosses and brewers hail partial u-turn meaning Britons WILL be able to order a pint in lockdown

Pub bosses and brewers have hailed a partial u-turn from the Government that will see pre-orders of takeaway pints allowed during lockdown as a "huge relief".

Ministers had faced a backlash this week after it was announced that takeaway sales of alcohol from pubs and other hospitality venues would be banned from Thursday until December 2.

But the full new lockdown regulations now published by Public Health England state that the sale of alcohol for consumption off premises will be allowed - provided that it has been ordered in advance online, by phone or by post.

Customers will be able to turn up at their local and collect a pint or other beverage, as long as they do not "enter inside the premises to do so".

Jonathan Neame, chief executive of Britain's oldest brewer Shepherd Neame - which is behind more than 300 pubs across London and the South East - told the Standard: "It is very welcome and I'm delighted they've overturned this.

"I am delighted they have seen sense about it, and for some entrepreneurial licensees it will make a difference. It will give them a little bit of income during a very stressful period."

National chairman of CAMRA, the Nik Antona said in a statement: "I am delighted that the Government has listened to the concerns of thousands of CAMRA members, concerned pub-goers, and beer lovers who have e-mailed their MPs in the last 48 hours urging the Government to allow pubs and breweries to sell alcohol as takeaway during the second lockdown.

“This is a vital lifeline for local pubs and breweries across England over the coming four weeks, giving them a lifeline of income and allowing people to support local businesses."

Independent brewers had also been calling for clarity this week on whether they would be able to sell directly to customers. The new rules published clarified that brewery shops can operate as off licences - meaning they will be able to sell beer in bottles and cans for takeaway without the need for pre-ordering.

More than 90% of the sales at Dalston’s 40FT Brewery usually come from supplying London pubs, bars and restaurants. 40FT co-founder, Steve Ryan, said the decision had come as a "huge relief".

He told the Standard: "This is a huge relief for us at 40FT Brewery.

"After several days of uncertainty and with just one day until lockdown we can now confidently plan how we will package and sell our beer this month.

"We will be turning our 40FT taproom into a ‘40in off licence’ selling our beer in cans, eight-pint mini kegs for takeaway. [We will have ] a click & collect service and home delivery nationwide."

Bethany Burrow Atherton, co-founder of Edmonton’s Beerblefish Brewing Company, also said the news had come as a huge relief.

She said: “The clarification that brewery bottle shops can open as normal and that pubs can offer click-and-collect takeaways is a massive relief. We were worried that many of our wholesale clients would be closing their doors for the last time tonight, but this has given the industry a lifeline it desperately needs.”

But some industry representatives have said that the partial u-turn does not go far enough.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association argued that pubs need to be given the chance to sell pints on-demand to take away, as during the first lockdown.

The body had warned earlier this week that up to 7.5 million pints could be wasted if the Government did not allow pubs to sell alcohol to drink off-site.

She said: “Takeaway alcohol from pubs if it is pre-ordered and customers don’t enter the premises is movement, but still not anywhere near enough.

"Supermarkets and off-licences can still sell alcohol, so this is grossly unfair on pubs with off-licences.