Pubs to sell extra 25M pints during Rugby World Cup

Thirsty Britons will account for the bulk of the additional sales – downing an extra 20M pints, according to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

Delivering a tonic to pubs nationwide, the organisation expected overseas visitors, here for the beer as well as the rugby, to account for an additional 5M pints.

Overall, the combined impact on pub turnover, in beer sales alone, was expected to reach about £86M. Extra food sales sold to mop up all those pints will add further to pub profits during the tournament.

BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: “The Rugby World Cup is a great opportunity for pubs, and they will be making the most of it. ​

‘The pub is a huge attraction’​

“Nothing can match the atmosphere of the Great British pub when it comes to big matches, apart from actually being there. And for those visiting the UK for the tournament, the pub is a huge attraction.” ​

Rugby-themed celebratory beers launched for the competition included: ‘Hop and Under’ from Robinsons Brewery in Stockport and ‘Prop Hop’ from the Suffolk-based Adnams.

‘Try Harder’ from Blackburn’s Daniel Thwaites  was an amber ale using hops from down under and English Malt.

Meanwhile, global business leaders celebrated Britain’s booming design industry at The Great Global Investment Conference in London yesterday (September 17).

Organised to coincide with the Rugby World Cup, visiting international business leaders heard from some of the UK’s most influential figures from the design, creative and automotive industries.

International business leaders​

Design contributed £72bn to the UK in 2013, employed 5% of the UK workforce and created jobs at three times the national average, according to statistics released at the event.

Commenting on the event designed to boost investment in Britain, Prime Minister David Cameron said: “The scale of foreign investment we are now seeing across Britain is a great success story and a vote of confidence in our long-term economic plan, creating growth and jobs for working people. ​

“As the UK takes centre stage once again, I am determined that we show the world just what we have to offer – with a strong economy and a wealth of talent, creativity and unbeatable investment opportunities.”​

Nearly 0.5M overseas visitors are expected at the Rugby World Cup, representing a strong business opportunity, said chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne.

“It’s fantastic that once again the eyes of the world will be on the UK as the first match of the Rugby World Cup gets underway at Twickenham tomorrow ​[September 18],”​ he said.

Hosted by England, the 2015 Rugby World Cup takes place from September 18 to October 31, with the final match at Twickenham Stadium in London. Tonight England plays Fiji at Twickenham.

Read more about how food and drink manufacturers stand to benefit from the Rugby World Cup here​.