Shropshire pubs pulled 150 pints per minute on bumper reopening day
The county's pubs have had a much-needed boost with figures showing they were selling more than 150 pints a minute at the height of reopening.
Monday saw drinkers allowed inside pubs for the first time this year, with data showing that they spent four times more than the average Monday.
Those figures were backed up by landlord Ollie Parry, owner of the Salopian in Shrewsbury, saying the first day back had been like a normal weekend – with appetite for a drink continuing throughout the week.
He said: "Monday was an amazing day. We basically did a Saturday's takings on a Monday and that is unheard of.
"We were open at 11am and had about 20 people queuing outside when we opened, and then were at capacity all afternoon until 8pm.
"The evening was a bit quieter but yesterday very busy again – just in the reverse."
Trade bodies have welcomed the further easing of coronavirus rules, but cautioned that the "fragile" hospitality sector is relying on all restrictions being removed before it can operate successfully.
Banking firm Revolut analysed the data of its 32,000 customers across Shropshire and Mid Wales on Monday, comparing it to the average spend for a Monday in February last year before the pandemic began.
It showed drinkers in the Shropshire Council area spent more than four times as much on average – knocking back around 164 pints per minute at their peak.
Telford & Wrekin saw drinkers enjoying around 86 pints per minute at their peak, while in Powys it was 140.
The biggest spenders in Shropshire were 25 to 34 year-old men, though Revolut said their customers tend to be slightly younger than the national average.
In Telford it was 18 to 24 year-old women, and 35-44 year-old men in Powys
Shropshire customers also splurged slightly more per round than others across the country – spending £13.25 per transaction, compared to the average of £12.86 across Britain.
And one punter even spent a whopping £221.51 in just one purchase in a pub or restaurant.
It comes as figures from the pub group Marston’s show the impact of the recent lockdown, with the firm slumping to a £105.5 million pre-tax loss in the 26 weeks to April 3.
Bars and restaurants in England were allowed to serve food and drinks indoors from May 17, following the return of outdoor hospitality on April 12.
Spending in bars across Great Britain was still six per cent down on normal levels – which could be because thousands of pubs are still closed and those open have significantly reduced capacity, the British Beer and Pub Association said.
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said: "After some questionable weather during the last week or so, we know Brits are looking forward to being back inside the pub once more.
“This is by no means the end of the crisis for our sector. We need pubs fully reopened without any restrictions at all on June 21 if they are to survive and trade viably.
“The countdown to freedom, and recovery, is on.”
