The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has issued a stark warning that approximately 309 pubs in the South West—representing around 1,788 jobs—could shut their doors next year unless urgent government intervention occurs. Across England, the figure rises dramatically to over 2,000 pub closures, risking 12,000 jobs if key sector costs remain unaddressed.
The sector is bracing for a “perfect storm” in 2026, driven by the planned withdrawal of business rates relief combined with an imminent revaluation of business properties. These changes threaten to increase business rates bills by over 50%, intensifying already unsustainable financial pressures on pubs.
According to a recent report by the Centre for Economic and Business Research, commissioned by the BBPA, England may lose nearly six pubs daily if no action is taken. Currently, pubs and bars contribute just 0.4% to the UK’s total turnover yet shoulder 2.1% of the business rates burden. If charges were aligned with the average business rates-to-turnover ratio, pubs would pay £130 million annually instead of the current £637 million—meaning the sector is overpaying by a staggering £507 million each year.
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The BBPA warns that without reform, the closure of 2,000 pubs will deal a severe blow to the economy, local communities, and the livelihoods dependent on these vital establishments. Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the BBPA, emphasized the urgency, saying, “This scale of pub closures would be a wrecking ball for the economy, job market, and communities up and down the country.”
To prevent this crisis, the BBPA is urging the Chancellor to introduce a 20p reduction in the pound for pub business rates during the upcoming Autumn Budget. This move could save nearly 40% of pubs at risk in England—saving 5,400 jobs and generating close to £100 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy. Alongside this, the BBPA advocates for a cut in beer duty, measures to mitigate employment costs, and a reassessment of exorbitant packaging fees—all critical steps to help pubs remain cornerstone social and economic hubs.
The BBPA stresses that these reforms are achievable without costing the government financially and would not only prevent widespread closures but also stimulate economic growth and job creation nationwide. McClarkin concluded, “Government has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reset a deeply unfair rates system and unlock growth in every part of the country through backing our pubs by cutting this crushing cost. We urge them to seize this moment to safeguard the UK’s pubs and communities.”