A report published by property consultants Altus Group on July 4 said that a pub a day is calling an hour in the UK, with more than 200 having closed their doors for good since the beginning of the year.
The report blames a combination of the pandemic and subsequent rising costs on business failures, with pubs struggling to cope with rising costs and falling customer numbers. The number of pubs, according to Altus, has fallen below 40,000, a drop of nearly 7,000 over the last decade. The rate of closures has accelerated and is currently hovering around 30 a month, and the trend is unlikely to change any time soon, according to Altus.
Rising food and energy costs are said to be the main cause of the problem, although with many tightening their belts, the number of visitors to pubs is falling, as is average spending. Staff shortages have also added to the problem, as have low profit margins and a growing tax burden. Although the industry has repeatedly asked the government for assistance, industry sources say not enough help has been forthcoming.
Altus Group UK Chairman Robert Hayton said: “While pubs have proven remarkably resilient during the pandemic, they are now facing new headwinds grappling with the cost of making a business crisis through rising costs. of energy, inflationary pressures and tax increases.
The number of pubs in England and Wales continues to fall, reaching its lowest level on record, according to new research. There were 39,970 pubs in June, more than 7,000 fewer than in 2012, property consultancy Altus Group said. #economy #accountants #business
—Steven Mason (@StevenM78359298) July 4, 2022
Concerns have been raised for the industry with the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), the British Institute of Innkeeping and UKHospitality all warning that only a third of all businesses in the sector are profitable. BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin is quoted as saying: “When pubs are forced to close it’s a huge loss to the local community, and these numbers paint a devastating picture of how pubs are being lost in towns, cities and towns across the country.
He called on the government to act or risk losing more pubs every year, adding that the number of premises being sold for homes and offices would make it difficult for the industry to recover in future. Pub owners have said a series of strikes by railway workers have also hit the trade. Bar owners have said the latest hurdle has been rail strikes that have made it harder for people to travel, further reducing business for those who rely on commuters and tourists.
The government has yet to comment on the news that a pub a day is turning heads in the UK, with its focus clearly on helping the man in the street cope with rising costs. Concerns have been raised for the industry with the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), the British Institute of Innkeeping and UKHospitality all warning that only a third of all businesses in the sector are profitable.
BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin is quoted as saying: “When pubs are forced to close it’s a huge loss to the local community, and these numbers paint a devastating picture of how pubs are being lost in towns, cities and towns across the country. He called on the government to act or risk losing more pubs every year, adding that the number of premises being sold for homes and offices would make it difficult for the industry to recover in future.
Pub owners have said a series of strikes by railway workers have also hit the trade. Bar owners have said the latest hurdle has been rail strikes that have made it harder for people to travel, further reducing business for those who rely on commuters and tourists.
The government has yet to comment on the news that a pub a day is turning heads in the UK, with its focus clearly on helping the man in the street cope with rising costs.