British pubs are failing wine lovers

Britain’s pubs are failing wine lovers with poor selections and bad serving practices, according to Marks & Spencer’s head of online wine buying.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Chris Murphy said that the majority of pubs in the UK are getting their wine lists wrong, and are missing out on sales as a result.

“I don’t think pubs go for the right wines and they don’t keep it right, which affects people’s perceptions.

“I’d like to sell them sell better quality wine. Many don’t stock fresh wine and too many don’t understand the importance of different vintages,” he told the paper.

Despite their inability to get their wine offerings right, sales of wine in UK pubs are on the rise, as local watering holes become more unisex in their clientele. 

According to the British Beer and Pub Association, wine sales in pubs now account for 20% of total alcohol sales, up from 11% a decade ago.

Gareth Groves of Bibendum meanwhile, believes that pubs have upped their wine offerings considerably over the past decade.

“The fact you can go into a family pub and find a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc or Chilean Merlot by the glass is a huge step forward,” he told The Telegraph.

“But the duty on a 175ml or 250ml glass really pushes up the price, so it’s hard to put higher quality wines on the list – no one’s going to spend a £8 on a glass of wine when a pint costs £3,” he added.