BrewDog tackles coronavirus with Kickstart Collective launch

UK-based brewery and pub chain BrewDog has announced its Kickstart Collective initiative.

“There has never been a more uncertain time for small hospitality businesses. The Kickstart Collective is designed to give support to help deal with re-opening and trying to survive this coronavirus crisis,” David McDowall, COO at BrewDog, said on Twitter. 

Any independent bar, pub or bottleshop can apply and the first 500 will receive the following: £250 of BrewDog beer to help with the re-stocking of their venue and ensure their fridges are full before it reopens; Access for their teams to online beer training sessions from one of BrewDog’s Certified Cicerone beer sommeliers.

A free login to a live webinar on the BrewDog response to the Covid-19 crisis, and its approach to the re-boot of hospitality, led by McDowall; A discount card for each member of their teams to use in BrewDog bars once the company re-opens; Downloadable guidance on its approach to social distancing, marketing and relaunch of its bars, safety of team and customers, and changes to operations routines and practices.

“We hope that, in some small way, this programme of support will give some of them a better chance of surviving, and in turn help protect the diverse, unique and creative hospitality industry in the UK, that we are so proud to be a part of,” BrewDog says.

Further details here.

Further questions

The move comes as The Guardian reports that more than 30,000 pubs, bars and restaurants may remain permanently closed due to the coronavirus shutdown.

Graeme Smith, MD at AlixPartners, said: “Many operators have got their tape measures out to assess the impact of social distancing restrictions on operations and capacity. Even with well-configured space, cover counts will be meaningfully reduced and may prompt further questions on whether it is sensible to reopen, or not, from a profit perspective.”