Weymouth and Portland outdrinks West Dorset in one night

We never knew it was a competition!

Author: George SharpePublished 23rd May 2021

Pub-goers in Weymouth and Portland were determined to prove a point on Monday night.

It was the first night pubs and restaurants were allowed to open up indoors, and it seems those in the south took it as a challenge.

At their peak, they were drinking 146 pints per minute, compared with West Dorset's 122 ppm.

The biggest spenders in the area were 55-64 year-old men, compared with 18-24 year old men in the west.

But, someone in West Dorset picked up the largest tab, spending £210.45 in just one purchase.

Spending in bars across Great Britain was still 6% 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."

That date is the proposed final stage of the roadmap out of lockdown in England, when all social restrictions would be removed.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said there is no "conclusive" evidence to deviate from the schedule despite concerns over the Indian coronavirus variant.

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