10 locations throughout UK the place pub numbers are ‘surging’ regardless of ‘important challenges’
While British pubs may be in strife across the board there’s a slew of cities where boozers and pub culture is thriving, with a healthy spate of new openings cropping up – here’s where
Pubs are thriving in a string of cities across the UK – with new openings of boozers soaring by up to 62%. Despite the number of inns declining nationally by 2.6%, a new report has revealed the top 10 towns bucking the trend.
Topping the list is Mansfield, Notts, where a whopping 65 watering holes opened in 2024, compared to 40 in 2020 – equating to a 62.5% rise.
The East Midlands market town is followed by Chatham in Kent, which has seen a 50% increase, with 15 new bars opening their doors last year – up from 10 pub launches four years ago.
Pub-goers in Basildon, Essex, can choose from 20 new venues, reflecting a rise of more than a third. While it’s grin up north with scores of new hostelries pulling pints for the first time.
Chester saw 110 pubs open in 2024, compared to 90 in 2020, while Blackpool’s 100 new inn openings four years ago was dwarfed with 120 last year.
Cheltenham, Glos, Walsall and Coventry in the West Midlands, Rotherham, South Yorks, and Basingstoke, Hants, also saw new openings soar by around a fifth.
Payment firm SumUp, which compiled the data, said: “Public houses and bars have faced significant challenges in recent years.
“The pandemic strained the industry as restrictions kept people from gathering at their locals, and with more commuters now working from home, the traditional after-work drink became less common.
“Rising taxes and a dip in disposable income added to these pressures.
“Yet despite a 2.6% decrease in pubs and bars across the UK, some cities oppose this trend and are seeing a surge in openings.”
Top 10 towns where pubs are on the up:
- Mansfield – up 62.5%
- Chatham – up 50%
- Basildon – up 33.3%
- Chester – up 22.2%
- Blackpool – up 20%
- Cheltenham – up 20%
- Walsall – up 20%
- Rotherham – up 18.2%
- Coventry – up 17.4%
- Basingstoke – up 16.7%
