The UK’s pub community is on the ropes according to a new report, with around 50 boozers per month closing.
According to data from real estate company Altus Group, the UK’s number of pubs dropped dramatically to just 39,069 at the end of June. That’s around 305 less than at the end of 2023 – which adds to the current high street crisis the entire country is facing.
The data also shows that many former pubs are now being used as homes, offices and as nurseries for children. Around 46 pubs were lost in the North West alone, which is the most of any region this year.
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A spokesperson for the British Beer and Pub Association said: “While we know that brewers and pubs pour billions into the economy, their massive contribution to society is priceless which is why any closure is devastating.
“Government must use this Budget to cut beer duty, reform business rates, and maintain 75% business rates relief so that pubs can remain a home from home.”
It could get worst for pubs however, as a potential smoking ban looms. According to leaked government papers, plans are in place to ban smoking in pub gardens as part of a tougher Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
The crackdown will extend to smoking outside football stadiums, universities, hospitals, playgrounds and smaller parks.
It is claimed outdoor restaurants, open-air smoking areas at clubs, and the pavements outside both will also be subject to the ban, as will the areas outside It’s currently unknown whether vapers could be affected, but shisha bars are expected to fall foul of the rules
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Private homes and large open spaces like parks and streets will not face the same restrictions, it’s understood. Rishi Sunak sparked controversy while at Downing Street when he announced a plan to phase out all forms of smoking, but did not mention the outdoor ban.
“It’ll be the end of pubs,” Reform UK leader Nigel Farage fumed in response. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has yet to rule it out, and added fuel to the fire last month when asked about it.
He said: “My starting point on this is to remind everybody that over 80,000 people lose their lives every year because of smoking. That is a preventable death, it’s a huge burden on the NHS and, of course, it is a burden on the taxpayer.
“So, yes, we are going to take decisions in this space, more details will be revealed, but this is a preventable series of deaths and we’ve got to take action to reduce the burden on the NHS and the taxpayer. It is important to get the balance right, but everybody … who uses the NHS will know that it’s on its knees.”
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