Greater London and east Midlands hardest hit by pub closures

Statistics from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) show the two regions endured the highest proportion of pub closures, with closed pubs representing 1.3% of pubs in each region.

The total number of pubs in the east Midlands region decreased from 3,498 to 3,451 between January and June of this year.

In Greater London the 4,162 pubs in business at the start of the year shrunk to 4,108 by the summer.

Closures

The south-east and north-west suffered the highest total number of closures, with 61 pubs closing in each of the the regions since January.

Meanwhile the north-east had the best six months with just 13 pubs closing, meaning 0.7% of pubs in the region called it a day.

The news came as YouGov released the results of its survey into the number of pubs Brits have seen close in the past five years.

Eighty per cent of individuals who responded said they had witnessed at least one pub close, and just over a fifth said they had seen five or more close.

CAMRA has urged the Government to abandon any upcoming increases to the tax paid by pubs in this autumn’s Budget.

The beer duty is presently scheduled to increase by around 2p per pint, with pubs set to lose £1,000 in business rate relief.

'Dismal picture'

CAMRA’s national chairman Jackie Parker said: “The latest YouGov findings, coupled with our own pub closure figures, paint a dismal picture for our pubs. As taxes continue to rise, more people are choosing to drink at home and as a consequence, pubs are closing down. It’s a vicious cycle.

“Pub closures make us all poorer by reducing overall tax revenues raised by the pub sector and weakening community life in areas where valued pubs close.

“Fundamental change is needed if the British pub is to survive for future generations.

“We are urging the Government to take action to secure the future of our pubs by relieving the tax burden.”