Beer shortage could continue until end of September: Pub CLOSES as it runs out of booze with landlords warning it may be WEEKS before stocks replenish due to shortage of drivers and threat of strikes

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Britain's beer shortage could continue well into September, landlords are warning, amid fears that strikes and a lack of lorry drivers may mean it is weeks before stocks replenish.

One pub has revealed it has already been forced to close after not receiving enough barrels of Amstel, Fosters or Heineken to adequately serve punters.

The crisis has emerged as a combined result of the pingdemic limiting numbers of available lorry drivers, a much smaller pool of Eastern European workers due to Brexit, and proposed strike action from draymen responsible for around 40% of beer deliveries to British pubs. 

Despite the industrial action being resolved last week, pubs across the country are already desperately low on stock, and watering holes owned by the larger chains are the worst affected due to their reliance on imported beers.

A notice at the Seven Wives pub in St Ives, Cornwall, read: 'Due to Heineken having strike issues with deliveries we (like most pubs etc ) are experiencing a shortage of our usual stock.

'We have a driver out most days collecting all over East Anglia and South London.

'Stella Artois, Estrella, Peroni: These will be replacing some of our hard-to-get stock soon like Fosters, Birra Morreti, and obviously Heineken.

'We will try to keep you up-to-date on the changing products. The Word on the Street is that it this is this could go on till mid September.'

Britain's beer shortage could continue well into September, landlords are warning, amid fears that strikes and a lack of lorry drivers may mean it is weeks before stocks replenish

The Greyhound Inn in Stogursey revealed it has already been forced to close after not receiving enough barrels of Amstel, Fosters or Heineken to adequately serve punters

Similarly, The Old Black Horse in Mapperley, Nottingham, warned: 'Due to ongoing industrial action at Heineken's distributors, some of their products are proving very difficult to source. 

'Given that we're a free house, fortunately we can buy alternative products. So in the coming weeks we may be forced to substitute some of your favourites.

'For example Birra Moretti may be substituted with Peroni. Strongbow dark fruit, Lagunitas and of course Heineken itself are the other products facing supply shortages and thus substitution.

'Sorry for any inconvenience. This is due to last until AT LEAST a week or two into September, probably longer!'

Meanwhile, the Greyhound Inn in the village of Stogursey, Somerset, told customers: 'Pub closed today and until further noticed shortage of beer due to strike action from brewery.

'We simply have no Amstel, Fosters or Heineken so we decided to shut up the pub until we have new stocks ..sorry for any inconvenience caused.'

Meanwhile, bar staff and hospitality workers have already begun to face aggressive behaviour from disgruntled customers. 

The Fox and Hounds pub in Clavering, Essex, reported that the absence of some beloved beers resulted in customers 'swearing and shouting' at bar staff, despite members of the management team hiring vehicles and completing trips of hundreds of miles to secure extra stock by hand.

The drivers of GXO Logistics Drinks, which has 26 delivery sites across the UK and accounts for 40 per cent of all beer delivered in the country, voted for strike action after they were offered a 'paltry' 1.4% wage increase. 

24-hour strikes were planned for August 24 and September 2, before GXO Logistics Drinks settled on a 4% pay increase with representatives of The Unite Union on Friday.

Despite this resolution, the damage has already been done for many pubs who have stated they may have close on weekends and turn off taps for many popular beers.  

Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, called for more government help to mitigate the effects of the crisis.

She said: 'From large brewers and managed pub operators, to smaller breweries, leased and tenanted pubs and the independent free trade, the HGV driver shortage is affecting the entirety of our sector.

'As a sector we are working with third-party logistics partners around the clock to ensure as many deliveries as possible. Brewers are actively looking at ways they can still do deliveries as are pub operators trying to get supplies to tenants and lessees.

'It is a testament to the resilience of our sector that it is going all out to fulfil deliveries, while brands like Nando's are simply closing.

'Whilst we are grateful for Government engagement to date on the issue of the driver shortage, it is clear the immediate situation will not be rectified without their intervention.

'Adding HGV drivers to the shortage occupation list or temporary visas will be is essential to helping stabilise the current situation and help us at this critical time in our recovery.'