BBPA North West meeting

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has held its first ever North West Parliamentary reception, hosted by Weaver Vale MP Graham Evans, who also chairs the Parliamentary Beer Group, and Graham Stringer, MP for Blackley and Broughton.

The North West boasts more than 180 breweries and has over 5,800 pubs, and throughout the region the beer and pub industry supports some 180,000 jobs.

More than 30 MPs and peers were in attendance to sample beers, show their support for the industry, and hear about the rich brewing heritage of the North West.

Graham Stringer said that the North West was very much the “beer heartland” of the country, while Richard Kershaw, chairman of the North West Beer and Pub Association, underlined that the region had been “hit hard” in the last decade with a 42% rise in beer duty. While three recent cuts and a freeze last year had helped, he warned that the industry is “not out of the woods yet” and called for a further beer duty cut in the Budget.

Graham Evans spoke as chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group (APPBG) and discussed the benefits of increased investment in beer and pubs, giving people a social space to enjoy a drink, remarking that “socialising makes for good citizens”. Graham also mentioned his desire to see more women drinking beer.

Pub Minister Andrew Percy said that while he couldn’t say there would be a duty cut, “if any group can influence the Chancellor, it is the APPBG, which has been so successful until now”.

BBPA chief executive, Brigid Simmonds, thanked those who attended and urged MPs to pledge their support for the beer and pub industry by asking the Chancellor and the Prime Minister to support the BBPA’s call for a cut in duty in the Budget on March 8.