The British pub endured a devastating year in 2025, with new analysis revealing that one establishment closed its doors permanently every single day.
A Steady Drain on Community Hubs
According to figures compiled by tax specialists at Ryan from official government statistics, 366 pubs in England and Wales were either demolished or converted for other uses in the twelve months to December. This relentless decline reduced the total number of pubs, including vacant premises, from 38,989 to 38,623.
Alex Probyn, the practice leader for Europe and Asia-Pacific property tax at Ryan, emphasised the permanence of the loss to the Press Association. He confirmed these were not temporary shutdowns, stating the buildings have been repurposed as housing, offices, or other businesses and "almost never return to pub use."
Mounting Pressures and a Looming Tax Hike
The closures occurred against a backdrop of severe financial strain for the hospitality sector. Pubs were hit by increases in the national minimum wage and national insurance contributions in April 2025. The situation is poised to worsen, with the average business rates payment for pubs set to rise from April 2026 following an average increase in rateable values of 30%.
Every region in England and Wales suffered a net loss of pubs. The steepest declines were recorded in the East Midlands, the North West, and Yorkshire & the Humber. While the rate of decline has slowed slightly, nearly 2,000 pubs have vanished over the past five years.
A Wake-Up Call for Government
Industry figures have issued stark warnings, describing the data as a critical alert. Alex Probyn stated it reflects "deep structural pressures on pubs," with many surviving the pandemic only to be pushed to the brink by rising costs and an outdated rating system.
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, echoed the sentiment. "Every time we lose a pub we lose a piece of our social fabric," she said. McClarkin argued many closures are unnecessary, driven by a heavy tax burden, and called for urgent, pub-specific business rates relief to prevent further job losses and the irreversible disappearance of cherished local institutions.
The message from the sector is clear: without government intervention to ensure a fair deal, the heart of countless British communities will continue to stop beating.
