The Campaign for Real Ale blamed the Labour government’s tax policies, after figures showed that more than 1,100 boozers announced they were calling last orders for good in 2025
Britain’s spiralling pubs crisis has been laid bare by figures showing four are shutting every day. A whopping 212 pubs have already announced their intention to call last orders for good since January, figures show.
That’s according to new data from the Campaign for Real Ale, who blamed Labour tax policies. It comes after 1,103 pubs announced their closure last year and experts fear it will get worse.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves was forced into a climb down on business rate changes announced at the Budget after an outcry. But landlords are battling the impact of higher taxes, higher wages and looming drink drive law changes.
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Camra chief executive Tom Stainer said: “In the aftermath of the UK Government’s recent short-term and shortsighted ‘support’ package for pubs, we do not see the high number of pub closures stopping any time soon. While business rates announcements in England and Scotland might allow publicans a chance to breathe while treading water, it only papers over the cracks.
“Permanently lower business rates bills for pubs is needed, along with reduced duty charged on draught beer and cider in pubs, lower VAT on food and drink, and help with unreasonably high energy bills. Only then can pubs start to thrive, not just survive.”
A growing Government backlash led to Labour MPs being barred from dozens of pubs and restaurants across Britain, including Ms Reeves, who was banned from her local in Pudsey, West Yorkshire. Ms Reeves was forced to announce a support package for struggling pubs at the end of last month giving a 15 per cent discount on business taxes for one year, followed by a two-year freeze on bills.
It follows the announcement that a British bar chain is entering liquidation, leading to the closure of all its establishments nationwide. Point Blank, which initially launched in 2019, operated three sites across Newcastle, Leeds and Manchester.
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