A pub is set to have closed its doors every day this year, with 295 having already shut for good. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) projects that approximately 360 pubs will have ceased trading by the end of 2026.
Hospitality leaders argue that Prime Minister Andy Burnham's tax cuts for the sector have not gone far enough. The BBPA estimates that the loss of one pub per day this year has led to the loss of around 5,000 jobs, with over half of these workers being under 25.
The trade body also stated that the government could lose nearly £72 million in tax receipts due to these closures, as a typical pub contributes about £200,000 to the Treasury. Last year, 336 pubs closed in the UK, and nearly 2,200 have shut over the last five years.
Andy Burnham, in one of his initial acts as Prime Minister, announced a 20 per cent cut to business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues, which the BBPA welcomed. However, Emma McClarkin, the BBPA's chief executive, has urged the government to implement further measures at this month's Budget, including a permanently fair rates burden, freezing beer duty, increasing draught relief, and reviewing employment costs for under-25s.