One pub a day closed permanently in England and Wales in 2025
One pub a day disappeared for good in England and Wales during 2025 as sustained cost pressures continued to weigh heavily on the sector.Analysis of government statistics shows that 366 pubs were demolished or converted for other uses over the year to December.Industry experts said the data highlighted the “drastic” situation for British pubs ahead of higher property tax payments for many from next April.The statistics, which were analysed by tax specialists at Ryan, showed that the overall number of pubs in England and Wales, including those vacant and being offered to let, fell to 38,623 from 38,989 a year earlier.Alex Probyn, a property tax expert at the tax company Ryan, said: “These pubs have closed permanently, not temporarily.
The buildings have been demolished or converted into housing, offices, nurseries, cafés or other uses.Once repurposed, they almost never return to pub use.”The figures highlight a familiar tale of pub closures as the pressure on the hospitality sector continues to have a noticeable impact: almost 2,000 pubs have disappeared over the past five years even though the pace of decline has marginally slowed.Every region of England and Wales recorded a net loss of pubs during 2025, with the largest declines seen in the East Midlands, the north-west and Yorkshire and the Humber, the figures showed.The closures came as pubs were among businesses to face increases in the national minimum wage and national insurance contributions in April this year – with the outlook for the sector appearing even tougher.
From April 2026, the rateable value of almost all commercial businesses – which is used to determine the amount of tax paid in business rates – will be recalculated, as is custom every three years.For pubs and some other hospitality sectors, the rise has been unexpectedly large, even with a three-year tapered relief that the government announced in the budget, designed to prevent big increases.Probyn said: “This data should serve as a wake-up call … Many [pubs] survived the pandemic through resilience and community support, only to be pushed to the brink by rising costs and a rating system that no longer reflects economic reality.”Emma McClarkin, the chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, added: “Many of these closures are totally unnecessary and the result of a heavy tax and rates burden, which is why it’s never been more vital for a pub-specific business rates relief which could prevent more closures and more job losses.“The situation is drastic and we want to work with government to ensure pubs are given a fair deal, otherwise communities will lose cherished local institutions and, once they’re gone, they’re gone for good.
”A Treasury spokesperson said: “The fair and necessary decisions we made at this budget and the last mean we can deliver on the country’s priorities – cutting waiting lists, cutting debt and borrowing, and cutting the cost of living.“We’re also protecting pubs and other businesses with the budget’s £4.3bn support package, bringing total bill increases for pubs down to 4% instead of the 45% they would have faced without our support.“This comes on top of our efforts to ease licensing to help more venues offer pavement drinks and put on one-off events, maintaining our cut to alcohol duty on draught pints, and capping corporation tax.”
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