Number of pubs in the UK – Industry data

The total number of pubs in the UK dropped by 1% to 57,500 in 2007, according to market research company Market & Business Development (MBD).

 

It blames the downward trend on an overall decline in alcohol consumption, increasing home consumption of cheap supermarket alcohol, the smoking ban, rising energy and employment costs, and falling consumer confidence.

 

According to the British Beer and Pub Association, pubs were closing at a rate of 27 a week. This is seven times faster than in 2006 and 14 times faster than in 2005.

 

MBD forecasts that pub numbers will fall by a further 2% in 2008 and another 2% in 2009 before rising by a cumulative 3% between 2009 and 2010. However, this still represents a 1% drop on 2007.

 

Food-focussed pubs will fare best, while wet-led venues will be hardest hit by the downturn.

 

The UK Public Houses Market Development report is complie quarterly and annually by Market & Business Development. It costs £600 for a single annual report or £725 for four quarterly reports.

 

Number of public houses in the UK

 

Year	Number	% change year-on-year
2001	59,558	negligible
2002	57,965	-3%
2003	58,788	+1%
2004	59,673	+2%
2005	59,400	negligible
2006	58,200	-2%
2007	57,500	-1%
2008*	56,350	-2%
2012*	57,071	+1%

Source: MBD analysis of data from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) and trade estimates
\* forecast figures

 

Number of public houses in England and Wales

 

Year	Number	** % change year-on-year   **
2001	52,832	negligible
2002	51,415	-3%
2003	52,145	+1%
2004	52,963	+2%
2005	52,682	-1%
2006	51,479	-2%
2007	50,904	-1%

Source: MBD and trade estimates

 

Number of public houses in Scotland

 

Year	Number	** % change year-on-year   **
2001	5,084	negligible
2002	5,082	negligible
2003	5,122	+1%
2004	5,184	+1%
2005	5,170	negligible
2006	5,150	negligible
2007	5,150	no change

Source: MBD analysis of BBPA data and trade estimates

 

Number of public houses in Northern Ireland

 

Year	Number	** % change year-on-year   **
2001	1,646	negligible
2002	1,468	-11%
2003	1,521	+4%
2004	1,526	negligible
2005	1,548	+1%
2006	1,568	+1%
2007	1,549	-1%

Source: MBD analysis of BBPA data and MBD estimates