Pub numbers in the UK are in decline
This week, a report from real estate advisor, The Altus Group, has revealed that the number of pubs in England and Wales has hit a record low. Dropping below 40,000 during the first half of 2022, a fall of more than 7,000 since a decade ago, the figures are reflective of the immense challenges the hospitality industry has faced over recent years. Once loved pubs have been lost and disappeared from the communities they once served, having been either demolished or converted into homes or offices. While largely down to the impact of the pandemic, soaring costs and business rates have also played a significant role in closures. In fact, according to research from the British Beer and Pub Association, 37% of hospitality businesses are currently making a profit.
CIC has been working with pub organisations for decades and recognises the fundamental role so many of them play. During the pandemic, many diversified their offering to continue providing a service to locals while offering additional support to ensure isolating members of the community received the supplies they desperately needed. In return, there have been heartening tales of communities giving back and supporting their local pub when they faced closure. As a result, we fully understand the impact these closures will have on so many villages, towns, and cities and we stand with the hospitality industry and join the call for the Government to remove barriers and tackle the cost crisis to ensure that no more pubs are lost.
