A new trade association has been launched on St David’s Day today to promote brewers and pub operators in Wales.
The Welsh Beer & Pub Association has been set up to represent the 3,000-strong Welsh pub sector and more than 120 breweries and campaign for policies that help protect and grow the sector which supports 42,000 jobs.
It will work alongside the British Beer & Pub Association (BPPA), the Welsh Government, the Senedd and UK Government to achieve these outcomes.
It is headed up by Emma McClarkin who said Wales was a vital hub for our sector, which contributes more than £1bn to the economy.
“In recognition of this, we are proud to launch the Welsh Beer & Pub Association – a body solely aimed at promoting Welsh brewers and pub operators and given them a much-heard voice with both the Wales Government and UK Government,” she said.
“Given that today is St David’s Day, it could not be a better day to launch this important new trade association. I urge pubs and brewers who feel they need a voice to get in touch to find out how we can help them.”
Mark Davies, CEO of Hawthorn, who own 26 community pubs in Wales and Chairman of the Welsh Beer and Pub Association added that pubs and the brewing industry had been at the heart of Welsh communities for centuries and he was proud to stand alongside industry colleagues to promote the beer and pub sector in Wales.
“The people of Wales are proud of their heritage and pubs are part of the social fabric that makes Wales such a great place to live and work,” he said.
Lord Elis-Thomas, Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism said the last 12 months had been “uniquely challenging” for hospitality businesses and theiir supply chains and he valued the positive working relationship developed with the industry. “I look forward building on the constructive discussions we have had over the course of the pandemic, and to working with the Welsh Beer and Pub Association as the sector begins its journey along the road to recovery,” he said.
The chair of the cross-party group on beer and pubs, Jack Sergeant MS, said the brewing and pub sector played a “huge role” in communities across Wales and was important to the Welsh economy. “The launch of the Association is brilliant news and I look forward to working closely with them to secure a bright future for pubs across Wales as we look to rebuild post-Covid,” he said.
