Pubs disappearing from communities at a rate of 80 every month, reveals new data

New data has revealed 239 pubs have shut their doors for good over the first three months of 2024

The number of pubs vanishing from communities across England and Wales has seen a significant increase in the first few months of 2024, due to financial pressures on customers, new data reveals.

Government statistics show that 239 pubs were either demolished or repurposed for other uses in the three months leading up to March 31. This equates to approximately 80 pub closures each month, marking a 56% rise compared to the monthly closure rate of 51 pubs during the first quarter of 2023.

Leaders in the pub sector have attributed this trend to the effects of high energy and food costs, reduced consumer spending, and a substantial tax burden on hospitality businesses. The data, compiled by commercial real estate experts at Altus Group, indicates that the total number of pubs in England and Wales, including those vacant and available for lease, dropped to 39,162 at the end of March.

This is a decrease from the 39,401 pubs recorded at the end of 2023. The North West region of England experienced the highest loss, with 35 pubs closing in the first quarter of 2024.

An increasing number of pubs have disappeared from the communities they once served, being demolished or converted into homes, offices, and nurseries. Over the past year, a total of 472 pubs across England and Wales have permanently left their communities.

On Friday, leaders of pub and brewery groups urged the main political parties to immediately reduce beer duty and called for reforms to business rates ahead of the General Election on July 4. The Tories, Labour and the Lib Dems have all promised to overhaul business rates to ease the strain on high street shops, pubs and restaurants.

Alex Probyn, president of property tax at Altus Group, commented: "The fundamental issue for business is not necessarily the system but how much tax it actually generates. It is a tax that has risen 49% during the last 14 years with business, across all sectors, now paying £9.48billion a year more than in 2010.Whilst the pledges are welcome to drive down bills permanently for the high street, business had hoped for more detail and a timeframe in achieving this."

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), said: "The pub closure figures for the first quarter of this year are a reflection of the continuing high costs of doing business, especially with factors like high energy costs and food and drink inflation remaining higher than the topline inflation rate."

"Trading conditions have also not been helped with the varied weather than we have experienced, and in addition, with £1 out of every £3 being spent in pubs going directly to the taxman, the tax burden with which the beer and pub sector must grapple is another cost component which squeezes margin."

"Last week saw the publication of the various party manifestos with the parties making different pledges to reform business rates, which combine with previous promises to recognise the importance of the sector for communities and the wider economy. It is for this reason why it will be essential that the next Government puts in place a fiscal and regulatory framework that makes sure that the sector does not survive, but thrives."