Pubs pulling up to 170 pints per minute on bumper reopening day

Monday saw drinkers allowed inside pubs for the first time this year, with data showing in some parts of the region they were spending 96 per cent more than the average Monday.

The figures were backed up by Karl Gardner, who runs the Waterfall Pub, in Cradley Heath, who said they were "very busy" on Monday – with the pub expecting to be even busier over the weekend.

Mr Gardner said: "Monday for us was very busy, Tuesday was a little bit quieter and Wednesday has been quite busy again. And it is looking good heading into the weekend too.

"It hasn't been too bad for us and it is much better than being shut! We are glad to be back open again."

While Carl Willmott, bar manager at the Old Swan in Netherton, added: "It hasn't been too bad for us, but the weather over the last few days has been against us. But we've got to give it time to build back up – people have been stuck at home for so long.

"We are hoping for a busier weekend."

Trade bodies welcomed the further easing of coronavirus rules, but cautioned that the "fragile" hospitality sector is relying on all restrictions being removed before it can operate successfully.

Banking firm Revolut analysed the data of its 36,000 customers in areas of the Black Country and Staffordshire on Monday, comparing it to the average spend for a Monday in February last year before the pandemic began.

It showed drinkers in Stafford spent slightly more per round than others across the country – knocking back around 159 pints per minute at their peak.

South Staffordshire drinkers enjoyed around 173 pints per minute at their peak, having spent 96 per cent more on average – while in Wolverhampton they drank around 120 pints per minute at their peak, spending more than three times as much on average.

In Sandwell, pub-goers were spending 32 per cent more on average drinking around 146 pints per minute at the peak; and in Walsall they were spending twice as much on average, while drinking 120 pints per minute at the peak.

While over in Dudley they were spending more than twice as much on average, drinking around 113 pints per minute at their peak – and in Cannock Chase they were drinking around 145 pints per minute at their peak, having spent more than twice as much on average.

The biggest spenders in most of the areas in the region were 25 to 34-year-old men – while in Cannock Chase it was 45 to 54-year-old men.

Stafford customers also splurged slightly more per round than others across the country – spending £13.25 per transaction, compared to the average of £12.86 across Britain.

And one punter even spent £227.84 in just one purchase in a pub or restaurant.

It comes as figures from the pub group Marston’s show the impact of the recent lockdown, with the firm slumping to a £105.5 million pre-tax loss in the 26 weeks to April 3.

But the Wolverhampton-based firm was able to open all of its 1,500 pubs and restaurants across the UK indoors on Monday.

Chief executive Ralph Findlay said trading had been encouraging sinec outdoor serving was able to resume on April 12. He said that the business was already seeing people return to drinking and dining indoors with strong pent-up demand.

Bars and restaurants in England were allowed to serve food and drinks indoors from May 17, following the return of outdoor hospitality on April 12.

Spending in bars across Great Britain was still six per cent 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.”