50 reasons why the Government - and the public - need to get behind our wonderful pubs

From 16th century inns steeped in history, through trendy gastropubs providing food the best in avant-garde cuisine, through to traditional community locals serving the best in real ale, each one has its own attributes that give it a unique appeal.

But there is one thing that they all have in common - all pubs face an extremely difficult and uncertain future.

According to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), 161 pubs closed in the first three months of this year.

That’s almost two a day, and a significant increase on the already concerning figure for last year. It has also resulted in the loss of approximately 2,400 jobs.

Now pubs have been in decline for many years, for a number of factors, not least that young people today are far less likely to go out drinking than previous generations. Covid restrictions pushed many of the struggling pubs over the edge, finding that customers did not return once the lockdown ended. And the war in Ukraine sent energy prices soaring, while supermarkets often sell drink as a loss-leader to get customer through the door.

But the worrying thing is, the trend shows little sign of abating, with even giants like Wetherspoons being forced to close long-established bars.

And the Government is hardly helping. According to UK Hospitality, hospitality businesses are now having to pay out an additional £1.9 billion in wage, £1 billion in employer National Insurance contributions, £500 million in business rates, as a result of relief being lowered from 75 per cent to 40 per cent. Faced with these kind of pressures, is it any wonder that pubs are shutting?

This is a tragedy on two levels. First, there is the unquestionable impact this will have on the economy. If the BBPA figures are replicated throughout the year, that will be 10,000 people out of work, 650 buildings potentially lying vacant. It will also be bad for the Exchequer, with 650 fewer businesses paying business rates, income tax or VAT. And given the Government’s concerns about youth unemployment, the loss of businesses most likely to offer part-time work to young people is hardly going to help.

But equally important is the contribution pubs make to the wellbeing of society. They are the centres of our communities, often the only place where people from varied backgrounds will come together. A study by Oxford University showed that regular visits to the pub not only increase life satisfaction, but also released endorphins that release stress. In short, they can be good for our mental health.

The Government clearly needs to do more to support our pubs. But in the meantime, we can also do our bit by giving them our much-needed custom.

Because we won’t half miss them when they’re gone.