British Beer & Pub Association warns of daily pub closures

Nearly 380 pubs are expected to close this year across England, Wales and Scotland, equating to more than one pub closure per day.

The stark figures come from the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), the industry body representing more than 20,000 pubs.

The BBPA has estimated that 378 pubs will close, which would amount to more than 5,600 direct job losses. This is roughly a 10% increase on last year’s predicted closures of 350 pubs.

Earlier this week, UKHospitality warned that the sector is in danger of being “taxed out” after the Office for National Statistics confirmed that 69,000 jobs have been lost since the last Budget.

A Conservative MP also said that hospitality is being “taxed out of existence” during a debate in Parliament at the beginning of July.

The BBPA urged the government to act now by reforming business rates and reducing the cumulative tax burden on pubs and bars, which currently accounts for roughly 25% of all customer spend.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said: “Pubs are trading well, but most of the money that goes into the till goes straight back out in bills and taxes. For many it’s impossible to make a profit, which all too often leads to pubs turning off the lights for the last time. 

“When a pub closes it puts people out of a job, deprives communities of their heart and soul and hurts the local economy. However, it’s not too late to change this sad state of affairs. We’re calling on the government to proceed with meaningful business rates reform, mitigate these eye-watering new employment and extended producer responsibility costs, and cut beer duty.”