Chesterfield pub landlords react as strike action by delivery drivers threatens beer and crisps shortage

Douglas Daniels, who runs The Market Pub in Chesterfield, said a so-called 'beer drought' wouldn't be great but that he can empathise with the draymen

Around 1,000 draymen, who deliver brands such as Heineken and are responsible for about 40 per cent of deliveries to pubs, will walk out later this month in the first of two 24-hour strikes.

Unite the union said that its members, employed by GXO Logistics Drinks across its 26 sites, voted for strike action by 97 per cent and for industrial action short of a strike by 99 per cent over the company's offer of a 1.4 per cent pay rise for 2021.

It said workers had lost up to £10,000 in a year due to furlough and lack of overtime, with no pay increase for 2020.

Douglas Daniels, who runs The Market Pub in Chesterfield, said he can empathise with the draymen having himself faced an incredibly difficult year like many within the hospitality industry.

He said: “Beer shortages wouldn’t be great for us as a great deal of our sales relate to beer but, there’s not a lot you can do.

"We’ve been through the closures in lockdown so the pandemic steadies you a bit with regards to these sort of things.

"We just have to deal with it and, to be honest, I stand with the workers. They’re striking because they’re demanding better conditions and better pay and I’m with them for that.

Colin Whitehurst, landlord of The Lockoford Inn in Tapton, said the forthcoming strikes have not yet affected his orders of beer

“Currently, my orders have been fulfilled – there’s been no issues as such for me as yet but I’ve noticed that, going in garages or whatever to get fuel, there’s nothing on the shelves and it is a bit disconcerting. Hopefully it’ll remedy itself and things will get back to normal.”

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Colin Whitehurst, landlord of The Lockoford Inn in Tapton, said the forthcoming strikes have not yet affected his orders of beer – but that any further action may lead to supply issues.

He said: “We’re only allowed to currently order keg and cask from our pubco (a business enterprise that owns a number of pubs under tenant agreements).

“They’re checking on previous orders, what sort of quantities you’ve been ordering, so you can’t go out and place an order that is three times larger than one you’d normally place.

"The only thing that’s a real pain is that we have to go back to our pubco to get authorisation to buy wines, spirits, and that from elsewhere.”

He added: "There’s always the chance of disruption’s in supply. Again, the pubcos will only authorise your average stock and eventually, if the action continues to go on, it will affect supermarkets, it’ll affect wholesalers.

"I don’t think there’s any issues with stock at the moment, just with the ordering process, but if there is further action into October, November, and in the lead up to Christmas then I can see there being some supply issues.”

The first 24-hour strike will start 10am on Tuesday, August 24, with the second commencing from 10am on Thursday, September 2.

This will be accompanied by an overtime ban and work to rule starting on August 24 and continuing to Monday, November 15.

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