The cost to business of ongoing train strikes has been laid bare after two of the UK's big brewers revealed they are each taking a hit of over £1million per month.
BrewDog co-founder James Watt said the industrial action cost his business over £1million in December alone and has urged governments to "cut a deal" to end the chaos.
And Fuller's - the makers of London Pride - said the dispute had cost it £4million between October and the end of 2022.
Both the main rail unions the RMT and Aslef have rejected pay offers and there have been a series of stoppages since the summer.
Pubs hit at the worst time
In an impassioned plea to government, Mr Watt said the knock-on effect for hospitality from the rail walkouts came at "exactly the wrong time" over Christmas.
His concerns were echoed by Fuller’s boss Simon Emeny, who had already warned the strikes were leading to waves of cancellations of office parties across pubs over Christmas, regarded by the sector as a crucial trading period ahead of a typically quiet January.
Speaking on the BBC Today programme, Emeny urged union bosses to call of further strike action, adding: “The people that will suffer the most outside the sector will be our colleagues who rely on the hours and the tips they get during those big events.”
Get back around the table
Fergus Mutch, Policy Advisor at Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, has urged unions and governments to thrash out a deal.
“There’s no doubt that the cumulative impact of ongoing industrial action on our railways over the past year is taking its toll on businesses" he said.
“It’s an incredibly frustrating way to start 2023 — a year that could hold so much promise for Scotland’s recovery and getting our economy firing on all cylinders once again.
“Both parties in this latest dispute need to get back round the table, show willingness to compromise and hammer out an agreement which will draw an end to misery on our railways early in 2023.”