Britain now has fewer than 100,000 pubs

The variety of pubs and bars in Britain has dropped beneath 100,000 for the primary time on file as punters are postpone by the value of a pint.

More than 44,000 licensed premises have closed within the final 20 years, leaving simply 99,916 nonetheless buying and selling on the finish of September this yr.

The analysis by consultancy CGA/NIQ confirmed it was the bottom quantity since data started in 2003, because the pandemic and excessive prices accelerated closures.

Pubs have been hammered by rising prices and property market pressures that make buildings price extra as residential, whereas drinkers have been postpone by rising costs, with a pint costing 74p extra this yr than final.

For sale: Drinkers have been postpone by rising costs, with a pint costing 74p extra this yr than final

Figures from the Office for National Statistics confirmed the typical pint of lager price £4.62 in September, up from £3.88 in the identical month final yr.

Kate Nicholls, of business physique UK Hospitality, known as on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to grant tax breaks to the pub business. 

‘It cannot solely save extra native and nationwide companies however allow funding,’ she stated.

The largest losses during the last 20 years have been drink-led pubs, bars and nightclubs and impartial operators over bigger chains.

However, the variety of venues targeted on meals, resembling gastropubs, has elevated, reflecting shifting client behaviour.