Chris Heaton-Harris MP was presented with a special award for his support for British beer. Paul Mulliner from Nobby’s Brewery in Guilsborough, handed him a Parliamentary Beer Champion certificate and celebrated the achievement with a pint of Guilsborough Gold.
The Award was conferred in recognition of Chris’ help to secure the historic cut in beer duty in last year’s Budget. He earned a place on the list of Parliamentary Beer Champions on the basis of acts of ‘beer advocacy’ in Westminster, which led to the end of the Beer Duty Escalator, and the first cut in beer duty since 1959, last March.
The Parliamentary Beer Champions scheme is a new one, created by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), of which Nobby’s Brewery is a member, the British Beer & Pub Association and the Campaign for Real Ale.
Chris said, “British breweries and pubs are at the heart of their communities, providing much-needed employment and contributing significantly to the local economy. I, and other MP Beer Champions, were happy to support an end to the Beer Duty Escalator last year as a way of helping these local businesses to thrive and it is good to see that Nobby’s Brewery has benefited from our efforts.”
Paul Mulliner said, “Along with every brewer and pub in the land, we applauded the decision to cut beer duty and scrap the Beer Duty Escalator last year. “
“The end of the escalator has definitely led to a revival of confidence throughout the British brewing industry. At our brewery, we feel able to invest again in our business, we have employed additional staff and purchased new brewing equipment. In 2014, our 10th anniversary year, we will be launching Craft Keg products and increasing our bottling capacity.”
“Chris Heaton-Harris and the other Beer Champions deserve our thanks and it is a pleasure to celebrate with him today.”
Nobby’s Brewery has joined calls from the brewing and pubs industry for a freeze on beer duty in this year’s Budget, announced on 19 March.