A St. George’s Day bank holiday would provide a major boost for pubs, who could expect to rake in over £22million if a day off ever came into being.
As many in England celebrate the national day, one Tory MP has told the Express that not only should St. George’s day be a bank holiday, but should encompass a week-long celebration of all things English in schools, businesses and government departments.
New research today from the British Beer and Pub Association has estimated that the introduction of a new bank holiday to mark the day would increase beer sales both today and at the weekend by around 10%.
This would be worth £22.5million in additional revenue for pubs in England, which are still struggling due to high taxes and lower footfall post-Covid.
They say a whopping five million extra pints would be downed by patriotic patrons as they celebrate St. George.
The organisation, which champions Britain’s beloved boozers, today backed the call of Andrew Rosindell MP to extend bank holiday status to the celebrations.
They argue that brewing is a traditional and valuable English and British industry, with pubs holding a sizeable position in English culture and should therefore be a natural part of any St George’s Day celebrations.
2024 is also a bumper year for English brewing milestones, with the Manchester-based Robinsons Brewery celebrating its 185 anniversary.
Three others – Leicester’s Everards, Manchester’s Joseph Holt and the Cotswold’s Hook Norton Breweries – are also enjoying their 175th year of brewing, while Bateman Brewery in Skegness blows out the candles on their 150th birthday cake.
Andrew Rosindell, who today leads the charge to entrench protections for the English flag in law, says: “St George’s Day was once second only to Christmas for the food and drink-led celebrations it facilitated across England, and there would be no better way for people to celebrate the day in 2024, and beyond, than with a pint at their local on a newly instated bank holiday weekend.
“Not only would making St George’s Day a bank holiday be a boost for the pubs at the heart of England’s local communities, it would also allow for a great celebration of our country and its heritage.”
Anyone hoping that a future Labour Government may introduce an extra bank holiday to celebrate the day will be very disappointed, however.
Despite Jeremy Corbyn pledging to give Brits four extra days off a year to celebrate their respective national days, today it’s reported this policy has been dropped by Sir Keir Starmer.
GB News reports that, despite the Labour leader’s warm words about his English pride, voters should not expect a new bank holiday should they win the election.
Mr Corbyn today renewed his call for a bank holiday to celebrate Englishness, calling on parties to “bring our country together and give workers the break they deserve!”
Speaking to the Express this morning, Andrew Rosindell jealously observed: “St. Patrick’s Day celebrations go on for way longer than one day, so making this into a week of festivals, ceremonies and special events for St. George’s Day, in addition to a making the day itself a Bank Holiday, would give England a really good opportunity to celebrate and promote England’s magnificent heritage.”
