The number of pubs disappearing from communities across England and Wales jumped by a third in the first months of 2024 due to pressure on punters’ budgets, according to figures.
Official government statistics revealed that 239 pubs were demolished or converted in the three months to March 31.
This means around 80 pubs are closing each month, a 56 per cent increase from 51 pubs closing per month in the first quarter of 2023.
Pub sector bosses said the data reflected the impact of high energy and food costs, tighter consumer spending and a significant tax burden on hospitality businesses.
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The data, collated by commercial property specialists Altus Group, showed that the total number of pubs in England and Wales, including those vacant and offered for lease, fell to 39,162 at the end of March.
Compared to 39,401 pubs at the end of 2023.
The North West region of England lost 35 pubs during the first quarter of 2024, the most of any region.
A growing number of pubs have disappeared from the communities they once served after being demolished or converted for uses such as homes, offices and nurseries.
A total of 472 pubs across England and Wales have left communities for good in the past year.
On Friday, pub and brewery group bosses called on the main political parties for immediate beer tax cuts and demanded reform of business rates ahead of the July 4 general election.
The Conservatives, Labor and Lib Dems have all pledged to shake up business rates to reduce the burden on high street shops, pubs and restaurants.
Alex Probyn, president of wealth tax at Altus Group, said: “The fundamental problem for business is not necessarily the system, but how much tax it actually generates.
“It’s a tax that has risen by 49 per cent over the past 14 years, with businesses across all sectors now paying £9.48bn more a year than in 2010.
“While pledges to permanently reduce headline bills are welcome, the trade would have hoped for more detail and a timeframe for how this could be achieved.”
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), said: “The pub closure figures for the first quarter of this year reflect the continued high cost of doing business, particularly with factors such as high energy costs and food and drink inflation remaining higher than the upper line of inflation.
“Trading conditions have also not been helped by the more changeable weather than we’ve experienced, plus £1 in every 3 spent in pubs goes straight to the taxman, representing the tax burden the beer and pub sector has to deal with. the grab is another cost component that squeezes the margin.
“Different party manifestos were published last week, with parties making various commitments to business rates reform, building on previous pledges to recognize the importance of the sector to communities and the wider economy.
“It is for this reason that it will be essential for the next government to put in place a fiscal and regulatory framework to ensure that the sector does not survive but thrives.”