North Somerset is witnessing a sharp decline in its licensed premises, with one closing approximately every fortnight, as pubs grapple with significant challenges to remain open.
According to North Somerset Council’s mid-year licensing report, the district has seen a steady loss of licensed venues, coupled with an unusually high number of businesses struggling to pay their annual licensing fees on time. While the data includes all licensed premises, pubs and clubs are bearing the brunt of the decline, even as off-licences and supermarkets continue to thrive.
John Crockford-Hawley, Chair of the council’s licensing committee and Liberal Democrat representative for Weston-super-Mare Hillside, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that this trend mirrors a broader shift. “Going out for a beer has become a more expensive activity. Many people now prefer to drink at home and only step out for a single drink,” he explained.
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Yet, some pubs like the Tavern Inn the Town remain lively community hubs. Owner Jonathan Dudd, a seasoned publican with 40 years of experience in Weston-super-Mare, described his establishment as “a community pub rather than a nightclub or venue.” Dudd has also been working to reopen the Cavendish pub and acknowledged the ongoing struggle to sustain a business in the current environment. “It’s a battle to stay in this trade, but thankfully the Great British public still likes to come out for a pint,” he said.
Dudd highlighted rising utility costs and shifting drinking habits as key pressures, along with changes to Weston-super-Mare’s status as a seaside town. “We no longer enjoy the same footfall as before, and I can’t blame the council for that. People travel abroad now rather than visit sleepy old seaside towns,” he noted.
He suggested the council could better support hospitality businesses by simplifying the process and reducing fees for placing pavement furniture outside pubs. He also praised the significant business rates relief that hospitality has received recently.
The mid-year licensing report presented to the council’s licensing committee on October 21 revealed another concerning trend: “Cheaper supermarket offers continue to attract those on tight budgets, leading to a steady rise in home drinking.” Nationally, the report observed that a quarter of towns and cities that had a nightclub five years ago no longer have any. Although North Somerset has retained most of its late-night venues, footfall remains at historic lows.