80 pubs a month forced to close ‘unacceptable’
According to analysis of official Government data by Altus Group, the number of pubs closing rocketed during the first three months of this year – up 51% from the first quarter of 2023.
The research showed the overall number of pubs in England and Wales, including those vacant and being offered to let, fell to 39,162 at the end of the first quarter of 2024 to 31 March – down 239 against 39,401 at the end of last year.
Pubs that have ‘vanished’ from the communities they serve have either been demolished and/or converted into other types of use such as homes, offices or day nurseries.
Vital asset
Some 472 pubs called last orders for the final time during the financial year from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.
Wales and the north west of England saw the highest volume of pubs ‘vanishing’ at 73 and 72 respectively.
UKHospitality (UKH) chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “The level of closures we’re continuing to see reinforces that the challenges facing our nation’s pubs remains as acute as ever.
“It is unacceptable 80 pubs a month are forced to shut their doors, robbing communities of a vital asset and costing people their jobs.
Essential changes
“The fact we’re seeing such a high number of sites closing for good should concern us all, particularly as this occurred before above-inflation increases to business rates and wage costs in April.”
The UKH boss said the figures underlined the need for any incoming Government to address the cost burden facing firms.
She added: “It is encouraging that replacing or reforming the business rates system has featured in several party manifestos, delivering on one of our key policy recommendations.
“Such changes are essential to ensure hospitality can create places where people want to live, work and invest.”
