Harry's rant.

[Stan's Brew]

 

[crowcrow]

It is going to be tough times ahead for many people. Energy and food prices are hammering me - I can't imagine the pressure if you are running a business.

 

[foxy]

As Harry said he started in his brewing business from a passion, businesses seldom survive from affairs of the heart. It is from the mind where businesses succeed. Doesn't matter what party is on government, there will always be tough times to ride out. I hope Harry survives have enjoyed his videos, but I think, without knowing the financials,he may join the list he read out.

 

[dave_77]

He is in a better position than most with from what I can see online with his own taproom/pub attached and a decent garden.bit of luck he can ride it out until the the spring. Gonna be almost impossible that don't have their own taprooms and just sell to trade.

 

[Sandimas]

I feel sad watching this as I love brewing and breweries, but to blame everything on the govt is a bit simplistic. We're in the middle of a seizmic shift in times: we've just come out of Covid, as a result of that a lot of people's social habits have changed for good, in particular the young don't seem to want to frequent pubs like we did (I have a teenager, her nor none of her mates every consider going to the pub), and there's a war in Europe driving prices through the roof. I fear we will lose a lot of breweries and pubs but I don't think any govt can fix the current issues.

 

[Agentgonzo]

I feel sad watching this as I love brewing and breweries, but to blame everything on the govt is a bit simplistic. We're in the middle of a seizmic shift in times: we've just come out of Covid, as a result of that a lot of people's social habits have changed for good, in particular the young don't seem to want to frequent pubs like we did (I have a teenager, her nor none of her mates every consider going to the pub), and there's a war in Europe driving prices through the roof. I fear we will lose a lot of breweries and pubs but I don't think any govt can fix the current issues.

There are a variety of things that the government can control, and a variety of things they can't. War in Ukraine is one they can't control. Energy prices are something the very much can control. The UK produces more gas/oil from the North Sea than we need for our energy needs. Previous Conservative governments sold off (privatised) our energy sector, which means energy prices are based on global market pricing. If the government had kept the energy sector in public ownership (like France) then this could be used to subsidise energy prices (like France) and we could be shielded somewhat from global energy issues (like USA).

The government has put caps on energy prices. For right or for wrong, the caps could be made higher or lower. It's all a trade-off. Would it be better to draw more money in from tax and use it to subsidise energy prices, or cut hugely costly endeavours like HS2? Everything is a possibility and a trade-off. At the moment, I would say that subsidising heating bills and doing a big push for home insulation/efficiency is far more important than a fast train. All of that is within the power of the government to change.

To just blame everything on global issues and say the people running the country couldn't do anything is just naïve.

 

[Druncan]

66+ Breweries gone in 2022. some big names in there.

https://beernouveau.co.uk/2022-clos...EuPiDspHo9iqtt-B-cv9p7LHr6j8bMnfpfz37sL5CCGCg
Seems November has been fairly flat for brew sales with not much pick up from the footie/cricket.
God knows what will happen after Xmas in the lean months to end of financial year,,,,,, Sad times.

 

[Sadfield]

The true naivety is politically framing the video, instead of outlining the issues breweries face. The guy is potentially alienating part of his market. As the above post shows. Opinions either way are easily formed. And the thread already needs fullfact.org on the case.

 

[The Baron]

Love Harry to bits and have followed him from day one and before that when he was a homebrewer but and this is the but he has a strong political view which he has used the Vlogs for a platform on the odd and I do say odd time which I personally do not watch his Vlogs for that.
There are no doubts that it is tough times for most small businesses and a lot more may go to the wall especially in the brewing side.
The upsurge in craft brewing did create too many sustainable breweries as they jumped on the ride and some will fall by the way side because they did not budget for the saturation of the industry which then makes them uncompetitive if they had not done a business plan taking this in to consideration.
I can quote one that has just gone into admin near me "The Leeds Brewery" a couple of years ago their Leodis Lager was being sold for more than most IPA's with loads of hoppage which did shock me when I ordered a pint for my good lady against virtually anything else on the bar, that either means they needed a higher price to sustain the business against most of the other breweries.
Ps I hope as many as possible can survive but it is a dwindling market at £5 plus a pint and that is the truth of it. I only go out now on special events rather than because I fancy a good pint.
Sad Times