St Austell Brewery is to open its holiday lets on April 12 – but many of its pubs will not be serving pints until the end of the month.
The Cornish-based firm, which also owns Bath Ales, will reopen its cottages and apartments when self-catering holidays are allowed to restart on Monday.
But its managed pubs will remain closed until April 29, for outdoor serving, even though the Government is allowing pubs and restaurants to serve food and alcohol outside their premises.
The company has not revealed why there will be a 17-day hiatus before 18 Devon and Cornwall pubs, half of the total of managed venues, start serving in beer gardens or other outdoor areas.
But a spokesperson said many of the chain of more than 100 tenanted pubs will be open for al fresco meals and drinks on April 12, as the individual tenants have taken the decision to start trading.
The company expects all its 36 managed pubs, inns and hotels to be open, serving inside and outside, when the next stage of the lockdown roadmap is met on May 17.
Kevin Georgel, chief executive of St Austell Brewery, said: “For those planning a staycation, we’ll be reopening our self-catered cottages and apartments – in Hope Cove, Padstow, Fowey, Polzeath, Topsham and St Ives – from April 12. “
And he added: “Many of our pub gardens and outdoor spaces will also be reopening on April 29, so people can catch up with their friends and family al fresco while enjoying fresh draught beer, and some of the delicious dishes on our new menus. All our managed pubs, inns and hotels will be reopening on May 17 - for indoor and outdoor service.”
He added: “We’re so excited to make up for lost time and give our guests a warm welcome back to our pubs.”
St Austell Brewery’s managed pubs opening al fresco in April are: The Ship, Plymouth; The Victoria, Salcombe; Haveners, Fowey; Chain Locker, Falmouth; The Rashleigh, Charlestown; The Harbour, Porthleven; The Fort, Newquay; The Shipwrights, Padstow; The Central, Newquay; The Old Success, Sennen; The Oyster Catcher, Polzeath; The Port William, Trebarwith Strand; Pedn-Olva, St Ives; Mill on the Exe, Exeter; The Masons Arms, Branscombe; Harbour Light, Paignton; The Old Market House, Brixham; and The Globe, Topsham.
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In January 2021, St Austell Brewery secured a “significant” loan from its bankers to enable it to weather the coronavirus lockdown and plan for the future.
The company, which announced 100 job losses in 2020 as a result of the Covid-related downturn, said the working capital secured from Barclays, HSBC UK, and NatWest will ensure it has the capacity to withstand the challenges of the pandemic and invest strategically for the long-term success of the company.
The brewery, which remains independent and family-owned, has a long pedigree in Cornwall and the wider South West region, and is famous for its beers – including Tribute and Proper Job. The business supplies retailers and licensed premises throughout the country and exports internationally.
In March 2021, Majestic, the UK’s largest specialist wine-seller, announced it is to stock two of St Austell Brewery’s flagship beers in stores and online.
Majestic, which is growing rapidly and has just opened a new store in Beaconsfield, Greater London, will list Tribute Pale Ale and Proper Job IPA on its website and in 200 stores nationwide.
