Two pubs are closing every day under the “sheer weight” of tax rises, marking a 26% increase in closures
The trade body said the closures cut about 2,400 jobs as rising taxes, wages and costs continue to squeeze pubs.
- Approximately two British pubs closed daily in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 26% rise in closures; the British Beer and Pub Association reported 161 closures and around 2,400 job losses.
- Wales bucked the national decline as the only region to report growth, gaining 3 pubs to reach 2,901, while Scotland suffered the heaviest losses with 41 closures.
- Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said closures are avoidable because "pubs are doing a brisk trade, but their profits are wiped out by a disproportionate tax burden and huge costs."
- Addressing sector pressures, the Government claims to be "backing Britain's pubs" by cutting April's business rates bills by 15% and increasing the Hospitality Support Fund to £10 million.
- Seeking long-term relief, the UK Spirits Alliance, representing hundreds of distillers, urged the Government to conduct a "proper review" of excise duty, warning hospitality is "fighting for our very survival.
25 Articles
25 Articles
Has going to the pub become a luxury?
There’s few thing Brits love more than their pubs, but the beloved pub industry is dying. On average, two establishments close their doors for good each day. In the first quarter of 2026, 161 pubs have ceased trading, a 26 per cent increase to the same period in 2026. This sharp rise highlights the accelerating pressure on what has long been a cornerstone of British social life. Source
UK pubs closing at rate of two per day as 2,400 jobs lost as taxes and energy costs hammer industry
Britain’s pub sector is continuing to shrink at pace, with almost two venues closing every day and 161 shutting their doors between January and March 2026.The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said the figure marks a 26 per cent rise on the same period last year and has resulted in the loss of around 2,400 jobs.Younger workers have been among the hardest hit.The trade body said the data reflects mounting pressure on pubs from rising labour…
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