Sunderland brewery can continue with drive through service following coronavirus lockdown 'confusion'

Maxim Brewery’s idea generated vital revenue after it lost two-thirds of its trade overnight when pubs closed as part of the original coronavirus lockdown last March.

This week’s new lockdown, however, forced the Sunderland firm – brewers of the city’s legendary Double Maxim brown ale – to briefly put the service on hold amid uncertainty over new regulations.

Pubs, for instance, are not allowed to continue inviting drinkers to pick up click and collect alcohol orders and can only now make home deliveries.

Yet the Society of Independent Brewers has now learned that breweries are exempt from the latest changes.

Maxim Brewery managing director Mark Anderson said: “It was a little confusing at first to say the least.

"It seems that pubs, even if they have a licence for off premises sales, cannot do click and collect because the idea has been spoiled by a minority of people going backwards and forwards and causing issues by hanging around town centres.

"Our trade body, SIBA, have been in touch with the Government and breweries are able to continue with their click and collect services and drive throughs like our own.

"We were a bit frustrated at first because it does not make sense that you can go to somewhere like a garage and buy a bottle of beer and yet you cannot drive to a brewery and collect a cask.

“As usual, this has been rushed through and it is the detail which catches people out.”

The brewery, which has placed five of its eight staff on furlough, is only producing bottled beer at the moment and was forced to pour away thousands of pints of festive beer before Christmas when pubs were ordered to remain closed at the end of the second lockdown.

Its service will be open on Fridays throughout January from 10am-3pm with orders available by phoning (0191) 5848844.

Beers can then be collected from the rear of its premises in Gadwall Road, Rainton Bridge, near Houghton, while staff watch from a socially acceptable distance.

Nationwide deliveries can also be obtained by signing up to either a personal or trade account at www.eebriatrade.com.

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