One pub a day is set to close permanently across England and Wales by 2025, underscoring the growing pressure facing Britain’s tourism sector as rising costs continue to bite.
An analysis of government data shows that 366 pubs were demolished or relocated in the year to December, which equates to an average of one permanent closure every 24 hours.
The figures, analyzed by local tax expert Ryan, show the total number of pubs in England and Wales fell to 38,623, down from 38,989 last year. The worst part is that this is not a temporary closure: the buildings have been repurposed for housing, offices, residences, cafes and other commercial uses, meaning they are unlikely to return as pubs.
Alex Probyn, property tax specialist at Ryan, said the data paint a stark picture of the sector.
“These pubs are closed permanently, not temporarily,” he said. “Once a pub is demolished or replaced, it’s unlikely to come back. This should serve as a wake-up call.”
About 2,000 pubs have disappeared in the last five years, although the pace of decline has slowed down compared to the height of the epidemic. All regions of England and Wales recorded net losses by 2025, with the East Midlands, North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber seeing the biggest falls.
The closure is accompanied by an increase in operating costs. Pubs have been hit this year by increases in the national minimum wage and employer national insurance contributions, cutting into margins in an already low-profit sector.
The outlook is expected to worsen from April 2026, when commercial properties are revalued at business rates. While the government has announced reduced relief to ease the scourge, many pubs are facing much higher bills under the new rates.
Probyn said the rating system is increasingly disconnected from economic reality.
“Many pubs have survived the pandemic through resilience and community support, but are being pushed to the brink by rising costs and a tax system that no longer reflects how hard it is to trade.”
The chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, Emma McClarkin, said the level of closures was unnecessary and avoidable.
“The situation is difficult,” he said. “Many of these closures are a direct result of excessive tax burdens and business rates. That’s why easing certain business rates has never been more important.”
He warned that without targeted measures, communities will continue to lose important public spaces. Once the pubs are gone, they’re gone.”
A spokesman for the Ministry of Finance said the latest budget included support for tourism businesses.
“The £4.3bn support package means that the increase in cheap credit is around 4%, rather than the 45% they would have faced without the intervention,” the spokesman said, pointing to measures including free business rates, license reform, further reductions in alcohol duty on bulk beer, and a freeze on corporation tax.
However, industry leaders argue that these measures are being outweighed by rising wages, tax and property costs – leaving many pubs without a way forward.
As 2026 approaches, data suggests Britain’s publishing industry is entering another pivotal year, with a shift in business values now seen by many as the deciding factor between survival and permanent closure.
