Britain’s coronavirus-hit pubs are thrown £1million lifeline under new plan to help save locals from closure after lockdown forced 40,000 to shut
For the past week, almost 40,000 pubs and bars have been forced to close their doors to help stop the spread of the illness with no idea when they might be able to re-open.
As a result many now face an uncertain future, with some on the brink of permanent closure.
The Save Pub Life campaign is launched on Friday, March 27 to try to ensure they can carry on serving when the ban is eventually lifted.
Many pubs up and down the UK are under real threat of going under during the Covid-19 crisis
Devised by Budweiser, the new scheme is designed to help communities support their local during the Covid-19 closures.
As part of it, pub-goers will be encouraged to buy a gift card to spend at their local pub at a future date, upon reopening.
All funds will go directly to pubs and bars now, generating critical financial support during the period of closure.
The scheme is open to all pubs in England, Wales and Scotland and pub-goers can purchase a gift card for participating venues from Friday.
Budweiser Brewing Group – part of the AB InBev brewing group whose other beers include Stella Artois and Corona – will match the value of the gift card up to a combined total of £1 million.
The hope is that this financial support will go straight into Britain’s pubs, providing them with vital funds when they need it most.
Punters will also be able to email their favourite pub suggesting they join the scheme.
Paula Lindenberg, President of Budweiser Brewing Group says: ‘Pubs are a beloved part of our national culture and sit at the heart of our local communities. Yet, along with many businesses, these establishments are facing an incredibly difficult period.
The new scheme has been devised to help pubs get back on their feet in order to re-open
Without help from communities many drinking establishments could be wiped out completely
‘Although it’s absolutely the right thing to do at this time, closing doors to customers for weeks, or months, will see many pubs struggle to survive, risking lasting damage to the industry and those who work within it.
‘We know that Brits are passionate about pubs, so we have launched our Save Pub Life programme to help them support their local during this time.
‘As a champion of Britain’s iconic beer culture, Budweiser Brewing Group is proud to match the funds for the pub, providing an even greater level of support for the trade. We hope that pubs and pubgoers throughout the country get involved to help secure the future of the industry.’
Lee Kelly, Director at Upton Tavern in Widnes, Liverpool said: ‘The coming months will be challenging for us, and for pub and bar owners all over the country.
All funds contributed will go directly to pubs and bars during the closed period
‘We welcome the Save Pub Life initiative, which gives our regulars the chance to lend a helping hand during this uncertain time, and Budweiser Brewing Group’s pledge to match contributions.’
‘We are all unsure what the future holds, but immediate support like this is a breath of fresh air, and will be a huge help to operators like myself once we can re-open our businesses.’
People will be able to purchase gift cards and pubs can sign up from today at SavePubLife.com.