Mike Wood, MP for Dudley South, has been named Beer Drinker of the Year 2023 by the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group (APPBG).
Mike Wood MP receives the Beer Drinker of the Year award from Alun Cairns MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group
Mike was elected in 2015 and joined the beer group almost immediately. In 2017, he took on the chairmanship of the group and consistently championed the importance of beer and pubs to the UK economy and local communities.
During his time as chairman, the beer group held a number of inquiries into issues such as pub business rates, the future of cask beer, and unlocking pubs’ potential.
“When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, Mike worked tirelessly to support the beer and pub sectors, among the hardest hit by the successive lockdowns and enforced closures,” said Alun Cairns MP, current chair of the beer group.
“He was instrumental in raising the profile of the industry’s plight, working to secure meetings with ministers and achieve a level of support for the industry that enabled businesses to survive and jobs to be saved.”
The beer group, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, also presented a number of other awards at the dinner. Winners were as follows.
- Brewer of the year: Rod White, Nottingham University
- Lifetime achievement: Dr Paul Hegarty, outgoing secretary of the APPBG
- Beer Parliamentarian of the year: Lucy Powell, MP for Central Manchester
- Pub Parliamentarian of the year: Pete Wishart, MP for Perth and North Perthshire
- PubAid award: Fuller’s
- Special award: Marietta Stuart-Smith, for services to the APPBG
