The number of pubs in England and Wales have hit a record low in recent years due to the impact of Covid-19 and rising business costs.
The number of pubs in England and Wales has rapidly decreased over the past 10 years, according to research.
An analysis by real estate advisers Altus Group found the total number dropped below 40,000 during the first half of 2022, a fall of more than 7000 since a decade ago.
The study suggests that the hospitality industry has faced setbacks in recent years due to the impact of Covid-19 and rising business costs.
“Whilst pubs proved remarkably resilient during the pandemic, they’re now facing new headwinds grappling with the cost of doing business crisis through soaring energy costs, inflationary pressures and tax rises,” Altus Group’s UK president Robert Hayton said.
Stream more UK news live & on demand with Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Offer ends 31 October, 2022 >
During Monday’s episode of GB News’ Breakfast with Eamonn and Isabel, available to stream on Flash, landlady of The Queen Charlotte pub Jess Hunter discussed the struggling sector.
“With everything going on in the economy, prices are just going up and we’re having to put our prices up to reflect that,” she told the program.
“But everybody’s feeling the pinch.
“Maybe people are going to the pub once a week instead of going two or three times or they’re saving it for their families rather than going in after work.
“But we need the trade all the time. We need people really supporting us and coming out all the time and during the week.
“Otherwise, pubs are going to see a massive decline.”
Around 200 pubs have disappeared from English and Welsh communities from the end of last year to the end of June.
The massive fall in the past six months was in the West Midlands, which lost 28 pubs. London and the East of England saw the loss of 24.
Research from the British Beer and Pub Association, British Institute of Innkeeping and UKHospitality found that only 37 per cent of hospitality businesses are making a profit due to growing costs.
Chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association Emma McClarkin said it’s a huge loss to a local community when pubs are forced to close.
“These numbers paint a devastating picture of how pubs are being lost in villages, towns and cities across the country,” she said.
“As a sector we have just weathered the hardest two years on memory, and we now face the challenge of extreme rising costs, with only one in three hospitality businesses currently profitable.
“It’s essential that we receive relief to ease these pressures or we really do risk losing more pubs year on year.”
Originally published as Number of pubs in England and Wales hits record low
For all the latest Lifestyle News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
