Welsh pubs ban First Minister

Numerous pubs in North Wales have reportedly banned First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford in protest over policies which some publicans claimed have turned the sector into a “punching bag”.

While he may be stepping down in March next year, after five years in the role of First Minster, it seems that Drakeford will not be receiving a warm goodbye from a number of pub landlords. According to Llandudno Pub Watch chairman and West Conwy Pub Watch vice-chairman Phil Ashe, Drakeford is banned from an estimated 90 pubs in North Wales.

The extreme measure came about in protest at a number of the policies of Drakeford’s Government.

Ashe said last week, a few days after the announcement of Drakeford’s resignation: “Mark Drakeford is not welcome in our pubs, and he never will be because of the damage he caused all the pubs during the pandemic…Most pubs and businesses are still struggling because of him.”

“We just seemed to be a punching bag for all his policies, and since we’ve come out of Covid, he has done nothing to help the businesses recover,” Ashe argued, “and now going into a cost-of-living crisis, he goes and puts a 20mph speed limit in place, which has caused massive problems for our industry

Drakeford oversaw a series of severe restrictions on the hospitality industry to curtail the Covid-19 pandemic, including banning the serving of alcohol in a bid to stop the “normal human behaviour” that he claimed facilitated the spread of the virus.

One pub which celebrated the news of Drakeford’s fortchoming departure was The Black Lion in Aberaeron, which posted on Facebook that it would be marking the day of the resignation announcement with a £4 pint happy hour. According to local news outlet Western Telegraph, The Black Lion’s former owners had been fined £1,000 for breaching the rules by staying open and serving alcohol during the height of the restrictions.

However, the Welsh Labour leader claimed to be unbothered by the prospect of a mass barring, responding: “I find myself intensely relaxed at this. They are not in any danger of me visiting, so they can be relaxed as well.”

It seems unlikely that Drakeford’s last budget as First Minister, announced earlier this week, will see him taken off the naughty list.

The Welsh Government intends to reduce business relief rates from 75% to 40%, with the Senedd’s decision a cause for “concern” according to UKHospitality Cymru executive director David Chapman: “This reduced level of support now leaves businesses in Wales at a competitive disadvantage to businesses in England. Small businesses, in particular, will feel hard done by as their counterparts will see rates frozen across the border. A typical local pub or restaurant in Wales will, for example, be paying £6,400 more than one in England.”

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) also chimed in, with director of CAMRA Wales Chris Charters stating: “I am urging the Welsh Government to think again and keep the business rates discount at 75% as it is in England. At a time when customers are tightening their belts and businesses are grappling with rising costs, this help is desperately needed if we are to avoid more pubs, clubs and breweries being lost for good to communities across the country.”