BBPA reports over 500 pub closures in 2023

Over 500 pubs have closed across the UK in 2023, according to the latest figures from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA).

The industry body, which represents 20,000 pubs, reported there were 509 closures in the past year, which equated to over 6,000 job losses alone.

It added the closures in 2023 were “notably higher, proportionally, in Wales and Scotland”, with the rate of closures roughly double that of England.

There were also a higher number of closures in 2023 compared to both 2020 and 2021.

Over the last six years, there were over 3,000 pub closures, with the number of pubs falling from 48,349 in 2017 to 45,306 in 2023.

The BBPA stressed the pub closures will have a further impact on those who work in associated industries, such as farmers, brewers and pub landlords.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “When a community loses a pub, it does not just lose the building and jobs, it loses a cultural asset at the heart of the community that is impossible to replace. In any local economy or community, pubs are an economic bellwether and there is an obvious connection between the loss of pubs and the decline of local High Streets.

“At the last Autumn Statement the Chancellor provided a number of measures to support the beer and pub sector, but now is the time to stop the rot and at this Budget we need to set a path to secure the long term sustainability for brewers and pubs with a cut to beer duty, a cap to the business rates multiplier and a reduction to the VAT applied for hospitality venues.”

The body predicted the industry as a whole contributes £26.2b to the UK economy, £15.1b in tax revenue and provides 940,000 jobs.

It comes after a raft of restaurant closures at the beginning of the month as a result of continued financial pressures.