The Pub Closure Report January to June 2022 from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) showed in the second half of 2021, 254 pubs were recorded as ‘long term closed’, at a rate of 9.8 a week.
However, in January to June 2022, this had risen to 485 – almost twice the weekly rate of the previous half (18.7).
Rocketing costs
CAMRA has also written to the new Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Jacob Rees-Mogg, highlighting the impact of the current energy crisis on the licensed sector.
This included examples of operators across the UK who are struggling with bills or having to close their business in the face of rocketing utility costs.
“CAMRA’s pub closure figures show in the first six months of this year, the number of long-term pub closures has doubled from the latter half of 2021," chairman Nik Antona said.
“We fear this rate is set to go through the roof unless pubs get the urgent help they need to deal with the energy bills crisis."
Calls on Government
He said: “That’s why CAMRA is asking all its members and supporters to contact their local MP and keep up the pressure on the new Prime Minister for urgent action to save the UK’s world-renowned pubs and breweries. Anyone can join in by going to www.camra.org.uk/budget2022
CAMRA joined calls from trade bodies UKHospitaity and the British Beer & Pub Association on Truss to introduce a raft of measures as soon as possible to help the sector battle the energy crisis.
Antona added: “It is encouraging to see reports of an announcement on energy this week. This must provide support quickly to the licensed trade and should be followed by changes to duty charged on beer and cider served in pubs, clubs and taprooms, a cut in VAT for food and alcohol served in pubs and changes to the unfair business rates sys