Britain’s ‘vanishing’ pubs: How nearly 400 boozers have shut up shop in the first half of this year alone, with some regions hit harder than others… so how does YOURS fare?
Britain’s pubs are buckling under high running costs and the disastrous fallout of the pandemic – with nearly 400 closures in the first six months of this year.
Data compiled by real estate intelligence firm Altus Group shows 39,787 watering holes were still running in England and Wales at the end of 2022.
But data collected at the end of the second quarter on June 30 showed just 39,404 remaining – a loss of 383 pubs.
Among regions, Wales was the worst affected with 52 pub closures, followed by London and the North-West at 46 respectively, and in third place, Yorkshire and Humberside with 43.
The North-East, which has the fewest pubs among the regions, also had the fewest closures at 25.
Pub closures from the end of 2022 until the end of June 2023
More than 12 hospitality venues have shut each day in Britain over the past year as they struggle with soaring energy costs, according to figures. Above: A recently closed Prezzo in Egham, Surrey
Alex Probyn, president of property tax at Altus Group, called on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to act in his autumn statement in November to ease the pressure of significant business rates on the sector.
Mr Probyn said: ‘With energy costs up 80 per cent year-on-year in a low growth, high-inflation and high-interest-rate environment, the last thing pubs need is an average business rates hike of £12,385 next year.’
The number of pubs being demolished or converted for other uses across England and Wales surged by 50 per cent over the latest quarter, according to figures released this month.
Official government statistics have revealed that 230 pubs disappeared for good in the three months to June 30 as the impact of soaring costs and pressure on consumer budgets became more stark.
The data, which was compiled by commercial real estate specialists at Altus Group, showed a 50.3 per cent jump after 153 pubs vanished in the first quarter of 2023.
It means more than two pubs a day have left local communities over the first half of the year.
The overall number of pubs in England and Wales, including those vacant and being offered to let, fell to 39,404 at the end of June 2023.
It means a total 383 pubs were demolished or converted for other uses such as homes, offices or even day nurseries during the half-year.
Data compiled by real estate intelligence firm Altus Group shows 39,787 watering holes were still running in England and Wales at the end of 2022. But data collected at the end of the second quarter on June 30 showed just 39,404 remaining – a loss of 383 pubs
It also represents a sharp acceleration year-on-year, with only 386 pubs vanishing throughout the whole of 2022.
Currently, firms which pay business rates – the property tax affecting High Street firms – will see an inflation-linked increase next April, unless there is government intervention.
This is expected to add more than 6 per cent to bills next year.
Pubs, as with other eligible hospitality, leisure and retail businesses, currently get a 75 per cent discount off their business rates bills for the 2023/2024 tax year up to a cap of £110,000 per business, but this is set to end on March 31, 2024.