Cardiff pubs are struggling with a Guinness shortage, impacting sales and leaving some patrons disappointed as demand surges across the UK
Cardiff: Some pubs in the city are running low on Guinness, and it’s causing quite a stir. The City Arms and the Head of Steam are both out of the beloved stout, although not every pub is feeling the pinch.
Diageo, the company behind Guinness, says they’re seeing demand like never before. They’ve even been tapping into their reserves in Ireland to keep up with the UK’s thirst for the drink. Gary Corp, the landlord at City Arms, shared his frustration, saying it’s a real shame for business.
He mentioned that they usually sell around 22 barrels a week, but lately, they’ve only been getting about 10. It’s been busy, but he knows they’d be even busier if they had more Guinness on tap. He pointed out that Guinness drinkers are pretty loyal and will go elsewhere if their favorite drink isn’t available.
There are whispers that the storm-damaged Holyhead port might be causing some of the supply issues. Gary hopes things will get back to normal soon, especially with big events like the Six Nations and St. Patrick’s Day coming up.
At the Head of Steam, deputy manager Ben “Woody” Ringwood-Walker said they usually get six to eight kegs a week, but that’s dropped to three or fewer lately. The last delivery was gone in no time. He’s noticed a lot more younger drinkers enjoying Guinness these days, which is a nice change from the old stereotype of it being just for older folks.
He thinks the “splitting the G” trend, where drinkers try to get the perfect pour, has helped boost its popularity. Plus, celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Olivia Rodrigo have given it a shout-out, which doesn’t hurt either.
Despite the shortage, the Head of Steam is doing well, thanks to a variety of other drinks on offer. Woody mentioned that some customers are trying different stouts, which has been a pleasant surprise for them.
Interestingly, the Queen’s Vaults on Westgate Street is actually overstocked with Guinness. An employee there said they’ve been fine, possibly because they’re a locally owned pub that gets priority. They’re ready for the influx of younger customers who are getting into Guinness thanks to social media trends.
The Halfway pub in Pontcanna is also feeling the effects but isn’t too worried. They expect to run out by the weekend, but they’re managing with what they have.
According to reports, Guinness reserves are usually for Irish customers, but they’re now being used to help UK pubs meet the rising demand. Some pubs have even started using ration cards to ensure everyone gets a fair share. Diageo reassured everyone that they’re producing more Guinness than ever and are working hard to keep supplies flowing.
They plan to phase in more stock in the new year, and they’re even building a new brewery in County Kildare to help meet demand. So, fingers crossed, things will be back to normal soon!