Heartbreaking news for pub lovers: another 209 pubs have closed their doors in the UK this year! Since 2020, a staggering 2,283 pubs have disappeared across England and Wales. That’s eight pubs a week shutting down in the first half of 2025 alone! 😢
The rising costs of taxes and labour are hitting our beloved local spots hard. With national living wages hiked to £12.21 an hour and employer national insurance contributions up to 15%, pubs are feeling the squeeze. Business rates discounts for high street businesses were also slashed from 60% to 25% last April. It’s clear something needs to change.
Emma McClarkin, from the British Beer and Pub Association, is urging the Government to take action. She says, “It’s absolutely heartbreaking… pubs have real social value.” Without urgent Treasury support in the autumn budget, more cherished pubs could face closure.
Commercial real estate data highlights the South East as the hardest hit, losing 31 pubs in just six months. Many have been demolished or converted into homes, offices, or even day nurseries. The shift in the pub landscape shows an urgent need for reform in business rates and beer duty.
According to Alex Probyn, the slashing of business rates relief has landed pubs with an extra £215 million in tax bills. For small pubs, that means a whopping 140% increase in their average bill. With soaring business rates, increased national insurance contributions, and rising packaging taxes quietly draining profits, staying open has become an uphill battle.
When our local pubs vanish, developers are quick to snap up the plots for more lucrative uses. Let’s hope for a swift lifeline from the Government to protect these community treasures. 🍻 Let’s raise awareness and hope for a brighter future for our pubs! 🍻 #SaveOurPubs #SupportLocal #CommunityMatters