There have never been so few pubs counted in England and Wales, according to an analysis published on Monday. This reveals the impact of the pandemic on these institutions dear to the British.
The total number of pubs fell by more than 7,000 in a decade to fall below 40,000 in the first half of 2022, the lowest on record, property consultancy Altus Group said. Some have been demolished or turned into housing or offices.
The pubs and hospitality sector has been rocked by the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced establishments to close during lockdowns and led to a drop in demand.
Soaring prices
Today, the sector faces other challenges, in full inflation which reached 9.1% in May in the country, the highest for 40 years.
>> Lire: UK tries to rein in runaway inflation
“While pubs have proved remarkably resilient during the pandemic, they now face new challenges,” said Robert Hayton, UK Chairman of Altus Group, citing “soaring energy costs, inflationary pressures and tax hikes”.
>> Read also: Gas and electricity prices rise by 54% in the UK
Two hundred ads have disappeared
From the end of 2021 to the end of June, 200 pubs disappeared in England and Wales. The West Midlands in central England saw the biggest drop (28 in just six months), followed by London and the East of England, which both lost 24 establishments.
According to a study by associations representing the profession British Beer and Pub Association, British Institute of Innkeeping and UKHospitality, only 37% of companies in the sector make a profit. The rising cost of energy, goods and labor is cited as the main factor behind the decline in profits.
ats / iar