With this month marking the long-awaited return of indoor hospitality and leisure venues, punters across the country have flooded pubs and restaurants after months of heavy restrictions on the industry. Whilst the long-term path to recovery still remains unclear, Birmingham-based Gypsy Brew – co-founded by Gary Meads and Al Smith – remain in high spirits about the post-pandemic future of pubs.
Since the onset of the pandemic, the hospitality and leisure sector has been hit hard with unforeseen obstacles: with almost 10,000 licensed venues permanently closing in 2020. Despite the short-term road to recovery remaining largely unclear, looking ahead to the summer, the glass remains half full for Midlands-based microbrewery Gypsy Brew after securing a number of supplier relationships with independent hospitality venues.
Gary Meads, Co-Founder of Gypsy Brew, comments:
“As a second-generation restauranteur and pub landlord, I’ve experienced first-hand the difficulties that the pandemic and lockdown measures have presented to pubs and the wider hospitality industry. After navigating the long periods of closure and vastly reduced income, it’s become clear that the only way pubs and restaurants are going to bounce back in the future is through the continued support of guests and repeat custom. We’re very lucky that Birmingham has a thriving and agile independent scene that sticks together: this loyalty and camaraderie throughout the past 12 months has really helped to pave the way for home-grown brands like Gypsy Brew.
“As well as dining in, customers can support their local pubs and restaurants by ordering via click and collect, home delivery and even attending online master classes. With the next few months remaining subject to change, I don’t think these new services will be off the table anytime soon as they’ve proved a vital lifeline throughout the pandemic for both the wider hospitality industry and especially independent businesses like ourselves.”
Since launching its first beer just four months ago, Gypsy Brew has gone from strength to strength in 2021, having already sold over 3,000 units. Plus, coinciding with the recent re-opening of indoor and outdoor hospitality services, the brand has formed stockist relationships with a number of leading independent venues in the Midlands including Dicks Smokehouse, Fig & Favour, Smithtons, Umberslade Wine Bar, and Village Vineyards and as well as a several other local pubs and restaurants within the region.
“The future is definitely looking bright for the hospitality and leisure scene, especially as the vaccination programme proceeds and the prospect of international travel remains uncertain. Despite all odds, Birmingham’s hospitality industry is largely continuing to thrive, and we’re so excited to be partnering and flourishing alongside a number of leading independents within the region and getting ready to explore new flavours and offerings over the coming months.
From our perspective, we’re extremely fortunate to have a corker of a summer lined up, working with several amazing local restaurants to serve up Gypsy Water and Garrity Mash over the next few months. We’re also on the menu at critically acclaimed restaurants such as AboutCraft. We can’t wait to hear what customers think of our brews!” added Gary.
