Peterborough pub eyes business boost thanks to Euro 2024
England play Serbia in their first game of this year's tournament tonight
A Peterborough pub is hoping for a jump in revenue over the next four weeks thanks to the Euros.
England play Serbia in their first group game of this year's tournament in Germany tonight, amid calls for a cut to beer duty.
Around 80 pubs and breweries in the UK have written an open letter to political leaders calling for this tax, which stands at 54p per pint, to be cut in line with the European average of less than 5p per pint.
By cutting beer duty, it's hoped businesses can lead to charging customers less for these drinks.
In the open letter, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said current beer duty alongside energy costs is leading to 12p being made by pubs on an average pint in the UK.
Calls for more help
Dave Nightingale's the landlord at the Woolpack pub in Stanground:
"We need more help than that (through the Euros); we do need as much help as we can get from the government, mainly on tax rate or VAT relief.
"Everybody can see their local pubs are closing, they're dying, so every little helps.
"I'd love to get 50-60 people here per England game, that would make their day, or more if the big screen works and they like the vibe."
Beer and pub sector contributes '£26.2bn to UK economy'
In its manifesto, the BBPA believe that by the next government cutting beer duty rates, it will "unlock new investment in UK breweries, enable competition with other major brewing nations and keep the price of a pint affordable for all".
The group claims that the beer and pub sector provides "over 930,000 jobs in the UK" while contributing "£26.2 billion to the UK economy".
Last month, the government announced that pubs and other venues in England and Wales can stay open until 1am if either England or Scotland reach the semi-finals and/or final of the Euros.
"I would say this (the tournament) will put a good 20 to 30 per cent extra on our takings for the month, but last time we did this (last Euros) was during Covid, so how different is it going to be this time?" Dave added.
"Let us stay open a bit later, get some more revenue and as it's close season, we will lose revenue from the usual Premier League and Peterborough United games."