Pub closures up 50% in Q2 2023
During the first six months of the year, Wales lost the greatest number of pubs with 52 ‘vanishing’ with both the London and North West regions losing 46 pubs each
The number of pubs closing for good in England and Wales has risen 50% in the second quarter of 2023, according to the latest data from Altus Group.
The figures from Altus state that around 77 pubs a month closed in the quarter compared with 51 a month lost during the first quarter of 2023.
The overall number of pubs in England and Wales, including those vacant and being offered to let, fell to 39,404 at the end of the second quarter, down 230 compared with 39,634 on 31 March 2023.
During the first half of 2023 a total of 383 pubs “vanished” from communities having been either demolished and/or converted into other types of use compared with the 386 pubs that were lost for good during the whole of 2022.
During the first six months of the year, Wales lost the greatest number of pubs with 52 “vanishing” with both the London and North West regions losing 46 pubs each.
Alex Probyn, president of property tax at Altus, warned of looming tax rises for pubs calling on the Chancellor to use his Autumn Statement to help pubs.