Britain’s biggest pub chain is stocking Australian sparkling wine and brandy to prove to consumers that products sourced from the European Union can be easily replaced under Brexit.
Pub baron Tim Martin, whose company Wetherspoons owns 900 venues in the UK, is a strong backer of the UK leaving the EU with minimal regulatory ties.
He proclaimed ‘all EU products can be replaced’ at a pro-Brexit gathering held at the Conservative Party’s annual conference in Birmingham on the weekend, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Brexit-backing pub baron Tim Martin (pictured), who owns 900 venues in the UK, will stock more Australian sparkling wine and brandy to show consumers the impact of the country leaving the EU can be minimised
Mr Martin acknowledged South Australia’s Jacob’s Creek sparkling (pictured) and Black Bottle Brandy had won British customers over
‘People think the Aussies are all sledging and iron ore, but they actually produce very good sparkling wine as well,’ Mr Martin said.
‘I did a little experiment in our own business, with French champagne we’ve been selling for 25 years… (and said) let’s see what we can buy so that it doesn’t have to come across the Channel, so we got English sparkling wine, and Aussie sparkling wine.’
Mr Martin acknowledged South Australia’s Jacobs Creek sparkling and Black Bottle Brandy from South Australia and the Victorian Riverland had won customers over.
He also optimistically stated Black Bottle was ‘going to be the No.1 brandy in the UK’.
Mr Martin led a rally over the weekend calling for prime minister Theresa May to be sacked because she planned to maintain close regulatory ties with the EU after Brexit.
Mr Martin optimistically stated Black Bottle (pictured) was ‘going to be the No.1 brandy in the UK’
Mr Martin led a rally over the weekend calling for prime minister Theresa May to be sacked (pictured The King and Castle in Windsor owned by Mr Martin’s Wetherspoons company)
The crowd applauded after Mr Martin announced he had turned to Australia to stock some of his most popular beverages.
Australian Federal Trade Minister Steven Ciobo argued in favour of Mr Martin’s ambitions, stating earlier this year there should be a free trade agreement between the UK and Australia.
‘As Britain steps forward into this next stage, I can assure you that Australia stands ready, our ambitions set high,’ he said in a speech to a leadership forum in London.
‘There is no doubt that any shift in the tectonic plates of British economic activity will flow on to influence Australia in very real ways.’
Weterspoons pubs (photo taken inside one) will serve Australian sparkling wine in place of champagne