London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Aug 25, 2025

Scottish pubs 'running out of beer' amid supply problems

Scottish pubs 'running out of beer' amid supply problems

Some pubs in Scotland are on the brink of running out of beer as a result of supply problems, a trade body has warned.

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association said many deliveries to pubs had been cut back or cancelled since last week.

It also raised concerns over "delivery issues" facing suppliers of CO2, used to put the fizz into beer.

The warnings came as Belhaven owner Greene King said labour shortages were hitting distribution in Scotland.

Heineken is also reported to have stopped some deliveries.

A Greene King spokesperson said: "The issue of labour shortages is widespread and having an impact on the whole industry.

"We are working closely with our distribution partners to find a resolution to continue providing the excellent service we pride ourselves on to our loyal customers."

'Keeping up with demand'


A spokeswoman for Tennent's Lager said the company was "continuing to keep up with demand" for its products at Wellpark Brewery in Glasgow.

She added: "Our onsite brewing operations and carbon recapture facility means that we are able to scale up production to meet demand and have our own supply of CO2 onsite that make us self-sufficient.

"Delivery capacity is currently an industry-wide issue, however with our in-house distribution network we continue to work in partnership with our customers to fulfil demand."


Colin Wilkinson, managing director of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, described the widespread supply problems - which are also affecting packaged beer products - as "a catastrophe".

He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland: "We are just taking our first tentative steps towards recovery and the last thing this beleaguered industry needs is for restrictions to be imposed on it - this time, not (by) the government, but because of the supply chain and the problems they are experiencing," he said.

"Thursday, Friday last week we were hearing some reports that there were problems, particularly with some of the deliveries falling short by around 75%.

"But now we are hearing it from our members all over the country, and particularly the whole order being cancelled.

"We are hearing it is a shortage of drivers and warehouse staff."

Pub chain Mor Rioghain Group, which operates several venues in Aberdeen and Inverness, is among a number of businesses to have reported difficulties.

Mor Rioghain Group owns several pubs, including The Gellions in Inverness

Director Gavin Stevenson said a big delivery to one of the group's bars in Inverness was cancelled last week by Heineken the evening before it was due.

He said: "As it was, we were able to source beer from elsewhere, but this involved some frantic last-minute sourcing of product, and then an all-night work shift for a team of drivers moving stock from over 100 miles away."

He added: "Worse still, where pubs are tied into exclusive supply contracts, no alternative arrangements are being agreed in advance of the delivery actually being cancelled at the last minute, leaving publicans scrambling to find supply with little or no notice and often being unable to do so."

Nic Wood, director of the Signature Pubs, which operates 21 premises in Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews and Aberdeen, said all of his pubs had been affected by the delivery disruption.

He said: "We have our own small brewery so we can supply beer to our pubs but we are unable at the moment to offer our customers mainstream brands."

'Utter disaster'


Scottish Hospitality Group spokesman Stephen Montgomery said a broken supply chain for an industry already under pressure following lockdown restrictions was "an utter disaster".

"Piling this stress onto the already existing anxiety of recruitment, the pingdemic, debt and HMRC starting to knock on business owners' doors, this is beginning to push people over the edge," he said.

The SLTA has raised concerns over a potential shortage of carbon dioxide supplies, three years after the industry - along with others - was hit by a previous CO2 shortage.

Mr Wilkinson explained: "A lot of CO2 suppliers are no longer taking on new customers. They have already suggested that there could be delivery issues.

"If we don't get the gas then we don't have the beer."

'Perfect storm'


Mr Wilkinson said pub customers would notice the beer shortages "pretty soon".

He added: "It's a massive problem. We are coming to the end of summer. We've missed out a great deal on the summer season, which is our busiest time.

"This is just a perfect storm against the industry."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
Trump Called Viktor Orbán: "Why Are You Using the Veto"
Horror in the Skies: Plane Engine Exploded, Passengers Sent Farewell Messages
MSNBC Rebrands as MS NOW Amid Comcast’s Cable Spin-Off
AI in Policing: Draft One Helps Speed Up Reports but Raises Legal and Ethical Concerns
Shame in Norway: Crown Princess’s Son Accused of Four Rapes
Apple Begins Simultaneous iPhone 17 Production in India and China
A Robot to Give Birth: The Chinese Announcement That Shakes the World
×