More than 200 UK pubs shut in six months
The British Beer and Pub Association CEO Emma McClarkin urged the government to react quickly in response to the “heartbreaking” pattern of closures, with the South East of England hardest hit.
Eight pubs a week shut their doors permanently across the UK in the first six months of 2025, according to new figures.
This comes as the pub sector battles significant economic headwinds, including hikes to national insurance, minimum wage and business rates payments.
Official government data shows 209 pubs were demolished or converted for other uses over the six months to June.
The research, which was analysed by commercial real estate specialists at Ryan, revealed the overall numbers of pubs in England and Wales, including ones that are vacant and being offered to let, plummeted to 38,780.
Economic challenges
This means 2,283 pubs have disappeared across England and Wales since the start of 2020.
The South East was hit hardest in the first half of 2025, losing 31 pubs in just six months, according to the statistics.
In April, the national living wage rose by 6.7% to £12.21 an hour for workers aged 21 and older. At the same time, the Government increased the rate of employer national insurance contributions from 13.8% to 15% and also lowered the threshold at which firms would pay the tax.
Many pubs were also impacted by changes to discounts on business rates. Hospitality businesses received a 60% discount on their business rates bills up to a cap of £110,000 but saw this slashed to only 25% in April.
Partner Content
A ‘really sad pattern’
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said the government needs to act quickly to save pubs across the country.
She said: “It’s absolutely heartbreaking and there is a direct link between pubs closing for good and the huge jump in costs they have just endured.
“Pubs and brewers are important employers, drivers of economic growth, but are also really valuable to local communities across the country and have real social value.
“This is a really sad pattern, and unfortunately a lot of these pubs never come back.
“The Government needs to act at the budget, with major reforms to business rates and beer duty.”
Just last month, the trade body forecasted that one pub would close per day in 2025.
Pub and beer business Adnams recently revealed it has been reducing its operating costs to bring its debt pile down while Stonegate Group, which operates more than 4,000 pubs and bars across the UK, is also rumoured to be planning a major restructure which could result in the loss of 150 jobs.
The British pub and beer sector is feeling the pinch right now, with evidence such as the price of a pint of beer in England, Wales and Scotland now costing 34p more than it did in February.
Related news
Orma and Oreno: ‘Sometimes we take a little bit of the fashion world’
