Harveys Bitter

[BensGrandad]

I do not particularly like Harveys in fact if there is no other natural bitter available, as per Danehill Social Club at a recent dart match, I mix it with either bottled guinness or light ale. However, talking to a publican friend last night who sells a lot of it he told me that Harveys are up in arms with the likes of M & B who are selling it at around £2.00 per pint and that Harveys insist that it is not sold at less than £2.80 so are going to withdraw supplying the major pub chains like M & B. So probably soon to be no more cheap Harveys at The Sportsman.

 

[Grendel]

Surely it makes no difference to Harveys what another chain is selling Best for? They're only getting paid by the chain for the 9 or 18 of beer at the outset, not taking a further cut from every pint sold. I could understand it if there was a chain pub in direct competition with one of their managed estate, and they were being undercut, but I'm struggling to think of one.

 

[BensGrandad]

I would think that in the case of M & B they own so many smaller companies that every town has at least one of their chains with a branch ie Toby Carverys, County Carveries Ember Inns Food & Fayre etc etc. This would then have an effect on genuine free houses and Harveys Tenanted outlets.

 

[The Large One]

I don't know that Harvey's can stop M&B selling their beer.

If they don't buy it direct from the brewery, they'll get it from someone else.

 

[BensGrandad]

I don't know that Harvey's can stop M&B selling their beer.

If they don't buy it direct from the brewery, they'll get it from someone else.

Would they get it for the same price from a middleman. I dont know how true this is but the man who told mne is a very well respected man at arguably the best pub for real ale in Worthing.

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

I do not particularly like Harveys in fact if there is no other natural bitter available, as per Danehill Social Club at a recent dart match, I mix it with either bottled guinness or light ale. However, talking to a publican friend last night who sells a lot of it he told me that Harveys are up in arms with the likes of M & B who are selling it at around £2.00 per pint and that Harveys insist that it is not sold at less than £2.80 so are going to withdraw supplying the major pub chains like M & B. So probably soon to be no more cheap Harveys at The Sportsman.

That's probably a line that Harverys have spun to landlords to keep them onside. Would cost Harveys a fortune in lost profits if they stopped supplying big chain pubs

 

[The Large One]

Would they get it for the same price from a middleman. I dont know how true this is but the man who told mne is a very well respected man at arguably the best pub for real ale in Worthing.

A pub near me recently bought itself out of its tie with Punch Taverns.

The landlord was saying that, in doing so, they couldn't buy Harvey's (via Punch) for that price any more. As a result, he doesn't stock it as he would have to charge what they consider too much for a pint of bitter.

Instead, they now have a rolling choice from Dark Star, Arundel and the one at Battle, the name of which escapes me.

 

[Grendel]

Would they get it for the same price from a middleman.

I don't know about Harveys but when I worked in a Greene King pub a few years back, it cost us more to buy their beers direct from the brewery than it would have done to get them from The Beer Seller. Being tied, unfortunately we didn't have any choice in the matter.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

I do not particularly like Harveys in fact if there is no other natural bitter available, as per Danehill Social Club at a recent dart match, I mix it with either bottled guinness or light ale. However, talking to a publican friend last night who sells a lot of it he told me that Harveys are up in arms with the likes of M & B who are selling it at around £2.00 per pint and that Harveys insist that it is not sold at less than £2.80 so are going to withdraw supplying the major pub chains like M & B. So probably soon to be no more cheap Harveys at The Sportsman.

I have only been in the sportsman once this year (Leyton Orient JPT game). I was amazed when I was only charged £1.30 for pint of Greene King IPA, how is that possible, I am still unsure it was not a mistake even though I queried it with the barman.

Are these sold as loss leaders or do they make it back on food, spirts, wines perhaps.