Slough, Windsor & Maidenhead

News

Here is the latest news about pubs & breweries in the branch area.

  • THE SIBA INDEPENDENT BEER REPORT 2025 Tuesday 13 May 2025

    Report highlights, but the full report can be assessed via THE SIBA INDEPENDENT BEER REPORT 2025.

    Demand for independent beer remains strong with average production in 2024 up 10% on 2023.

    80% of independent brewers are producing a stout or porter and 60% are producing a lager with 24% now going on average into keg products, up from 18% last year.

    15% of brewers are now producing a non-alcoholic beer, which is an increase from 8%. Twenty-eight percent now produce a gluten free beer in response to around 10% of the UK population following a gluten free diet.

    There was a 5.5% fall in the number of breweries last year, with around 100 closing.

    29% expect turnover to decrease for the financial year to April 2025 with 68% of brewers having a turnover below £250,000 and 75% under a million pounds.

    80% of brewers made no major investment in their business in 2024, with 28% making minor investments in replacing and upgrading equipment.

    There has been a fall in exports from 17% to 12% of breweries with only 1% of beer production being sold abroad.

    46% of brewers said their main priority is survival compared to 43% in 2024.

    96% said that their relationship with their community is important, with 80% saying it is very or extremely important.

    30% of employees are female and 8% of brewers. Twenty-five percent of the workforce work in a taproom or shop on the brewery site.

    557 jobs are expected to be created in 2025, a fall from 768 in the last survey.

    44% of breweries acted to cut their carbon footprint.

    On average, small breweries cannot sell to 60% of their local pub market, with 79% saying the main barrier is the lack of access to beer lines.

    47% of consumers say they drink beer, 62% of male consumers and only 28% of 18-24 year olds.

    The number who never drink alcohol has increased to 21% this year with 36% of 18-24 year olds not drinking alcohol.

    77% of beer drinkers think it’s important for pubs to offer a good range of beers from small independent breweries. This increases to 81% of female drinkers.

    56% of beer drinkers are more likely to buy a beer if its locally produced, rising to 61% among 18-24 year olds.

  • New CAMRA website provides streamlined pub-finding experience Monday 12 May 2025

    The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), one of Europe’s most successful campaigning organisations, has launched its new website, giving its 147,000 members and new users alike the tools to explore pubs, social clubs, brewers and cider makers across the UK.

    Led by their campaigning for the best choice and quality for everyone who enjoys beer, cider & perry, and their mission to champion cherished pubs, clubs and festivals, the new CAMRA website has been built in-house with the input of thousands of answers to surveys, specially selected focus groups and extensive user testing. Built using a mix of open-source software and bespoke technologies, CAMRA’s in-house development team joined up CAMRA’s comprehensive data systems to create a truly compelling front-end.

    Flexible new access options give website users the option to choose the right route for them.

    For casual browsers who want access to a limited selection of new features, registering for a free user account includes access to the extensive database of pubs, clubs and pints; the ability to use the ‘trip planner’ feature and view suggested pub walks up to three times; and the latest on CAMRA news and events.

    For those wanting to experience these features to their fullest, the option of becoming a subscriber is available at just 99p per month. This includes extensive tasting notes for beers, as well as unlimited trip planning to make the most of visiting pubs and breweries across the UK. Subscribers can also ‘favourite’ pubs and clubs, adding them to their personalised and easily accessible list for future trips.

    CAMRA members are able to use the website at https://camra.org.uk/pubs and all its features, as well as provide their own input via beer scoring, improving the ratings and recommendations available to them, as well as which pubs make it into the Campaign’s flagship Good Beer Guide publication.

  • Fesh Ale Undermines Centuries of British Tradition Friday 25 April 2025

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  • The Cask Project Friday 25 April 2025

    The Government will open a public call later this year and would welcome a submission on Cask Ale.