Real Ale enthusiasts are starting a month-long celebration of community pubs on Easter Monday following the scrapping of the ‘beer duty escalator’ and the first cut in beer duty in a generation, announced in last week’s Budget.

The tax cut is a new beginning, like Easter, for pubs and brewing, the Campaign for Real Ale consumer group says.

‘Community Pubs Month’ sees public events over the next four weeks at 6,000 boozers across Britain.

It follows independent research from campaign organisers that shows four-out-of-10 people are using pubs less than they did a year ago.

“The Chancellor has become the toast of London’s cash-strapped beer drinkers,” said Camra’s Chief Mike Benner.

“We should now be paying around 10p a pub pint less, had the escalator remained in last week’s Budget.

“Many people are using pubs less in these difficult times—this tax cut is an important step in the right direction to support this great British industry and get people back into a community amenity, the pub.”

It is “a massive victory” for Britain’s 15 million beer drinkers, says Camra. Now they want people to celebrate in their local throughout the Pubs Month.