A pub has launched a unique loyalty scheme offering a free pint to customers in tribute to Rachel Reeves – but in true Labour fashion, there’s a hitch.
The Ecclian pub in Eccleshall, Staffordshire, is offering his customers a free pint after the Chancellor bragged about cutting the cost of the pint by 1p in her Autumn Budget.
Its owner Martin Peet said he was inundated with calls from his punters asking what the cut to draught duty meant for them and he couldn’t bear to see his customers miss out on Labour’s largesse.
So the 62-year-old has created a scheme that gives customers a stamp for every pint they buy with the chance of a free pint – but only after they’ve bought 350.
Mr Peet, who launched the pub five years ago just before the Covid pandemic hit Britain, joked that some of his regular customers could expect to get their free pint before the new NI rates come into force in April’
He explained: ‘The customers were quick to ask about the penny cut to a pint announced by the Chancellor and pointed out that when 10p goes onto a pint, they expect to see it reflected in the prices they pay.
‘All our prices end in a zero or a 5p to make things easier so rather than mess that all up I launched the Loyalty Scheme.
Martin Peet, pictured, owner of the Ecclian in Eccleshall, Staffordshire, came up a scheme to pass on the cut as he could not bear to see his customers miss out on Labour’s largess.
Tim Plimmer, 78, pictured, said: ‘‘I keep my loyalty card behind the bar so I don’t lose it but I average six pints a day so I could be having a free one early in the new year’
The sign explaining the loyalty scheme to customers of the Ecclian in Eccleshall, Staffordshire
‘We sell pints at £3.50, so fair’s fair, when they have drunk 350, they get one free.
‘If they drink quickly enough, they should have their free pint before the National Insurance rises take effect in April.’
Mr Peet, 62, modelled his boozer on Coronation Street’s Rovers Return with flying ducks on the wall in tribute to Hilda and Stan Ogden’s mural.
He said: ‘It was a tough start and this budget certainly doesn’t help
‘The changes [the Chancellor] announced to national insurance and the minimum wage will add £600 per member of staff. I have five.
‘Ultimately something will have to give. I’ll have to put the prices up or work harder myself.
‘The shrinking of the economy they announced today says everything about her budget. She has caused it by taxing businesses.’
He said that when he arrived in Eccleshall 50 years ago, there was a population of 2,000 people and 17 pubs. Now there are 7,000 people and just five remain.
‘I keep customers coming back by stocking what they want,’ he said. ‘There’s an 82 year old customer, Mrs Asbury, who likes Midori and soda so I stock it for her.
‘Another lady loves a Cherry Brandy and lemonade and Mrs H like a Pernod and lemonade so we keep it all here.’
The scheme has been a success among many customers, who when MailOnline visited the pub, were busily working their way through their loyalty cards.
Nigel Cole, 79, pictured, a retired printer, said in 350 days he will toast Rachel Reeves and what the Labour party ‘have done for us’.
Chris Gibson, 62, pictured, with his loyalty card, said the scheme was brilliant as it’s taking ‘taking the what not’ about the fact cut the price of draught duty while adding extra a burden from other charges
Bartender Ruth Furber, 37, holding a bottle of Duonnet Red Vermouth, said: ‘The place was absolutely packed. You could not get in the door.
Nigel Cole, 79, a retired printer, said: ‘I think the scheme is absolutely fantastic because in 350 days I will be able to drink a pint in this bar and toast Rachel Reeves and what this New Labour Party have done for us. I may invite her to join me in person.’
Painter and decorator Roy Plant, 52, added: ‘This place is the cheapest and they are always looking out for us.
‘I think I average three-a-day so I should be getting a free one next Spring. Maybe I can go a bit faster than that.’
Tim Plimmer, 78, a retired digger driver, was racing towards the target.
‘This is the best pub in Eccleshall,’ he said, ‘ and, fortunately, it’s also the cheapest.
‘I keep my loyalty card behind the bar so I don’t lose it but I average six pints a day so I could be having a free one early in the new year.
‘I thought the budget was crap. I have lost my hearing allowance and the penny off a pint is a bad joke.’
The pub is modelled on Coronation Street’s Rovers Return with flying ducks on the wall in tribute to Hilda and Stan Ogden’s mural
Window cleaner Chris Gibson, 62, who had chalked six off, said: ‘I think it’s a brilliant idea. It is absolutely taking the what not when you announce a penny off a pint while putting 20p onto it through the other changes.’
Landlord Martin is always dreaming up new ways to pull in the punters and was deluged midweek when he offered Double Diamond at 1974 prices – 39p-a-pint.
The beer, which used to sell 50 million pints a year in the 70s, was a favourite of Prince Philip’s and he managed to get it on draught from Allsop’s when its comeback has been limited so far to London.
Bartender Ruth Furber, 37, said: ‘The place was absolutely packed. You could not get in the door.
‘People were coming from all over. I had a customer ringing up from a tailback on the M6 asking us to save them a pint.
‘The Loyalty scheme is a genius idea. The customers love it. They think it’s very funny.’
