The British pub: they’ve been a pillar of society for time immemorial (the oldest is thought to be Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St Albans).

 

But, due to economic concerns and changes in society, they’re shutting their doors in their droves.

 

Why is this? In this article, we’ll explore the demise of the British pub a little more.

 

How many British pubs are closed?

 

This Daily Mirror article reports “25 British pubs are closing every week”.

 

It draws on research by CGA, which claims that 1,321 pubs have closed when compared to this time last year.

 

Sky News also reported that 150 pubs closed in the first three months of 2023 alone.

 

Why are pubs closing?

 

Pubs seem to be closing for a range of different reasons.

 

Economic concerns

 

Generally, there’s a trend of people going out for food and drink less, due to economic uncertainty.

 

The UK is going through a cost of living crisis, and households up and down the country are struggling to make ends meet.

 

One of the first things to go in these times? Nights out at the pub.

 

And, it’s obvious that when a business isn’t making enough custom, it might not survive.

 

Rising costs for landlords

 

It’s not just about patrons not coming to the pub-owning hospitality businesses has become increasingly costly, again thanks to the cost of living crisis.

 

Energy bills were through the roof in winter 2022/3, meaning that opening, lighting, heating and cooking for a pub could be eye-wateringly expensive.

 

Then there’s the cost of food. This has also increased dramatically, partially due to Brexit.

 

Change in customer habits

 

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Walk down the alcohol aisle of your local supermarket, and you’ll see beers from all corners of the world, flavoured gin, hundreds of varieties of wine and cider straight from Somerset orchards.

 

With all that at the customer’s disposal, it’s easy to see why they might favour a night in (which is much cheaper) than an evening at their local pub.

 

Of course, there are counter-arguments to this – many go to pubs for the atmosphere, to meet up with groups of friends and don’t wish to drink in their house.

 

But there’s no denying that the availability of alcohol in stores has some impact on customers’ drinking habits.

 

COVID

 

Yes, COVID is still being cited as a reason! Lots of pubs had to borrow money to stay afloat during the pandemic, and while it’s highly unlikely that we’ll see any similar closures this winter, changing public habits mean that it’s impossible for some landlords to earn enough money to pay back.

 

Technology

 

20 years ago, there was nothing quite like a night at the pub. It was where you’d catch up with your mates (who you probably hadn’t spoken to all week) and enjoy treats that you couldn’t get at home.

 

This has all changed with the advancement of technology.

 

Fewer people are going to pubs because more are engaging in similar activities online. People are chatting on Zoom or WhatsApp and ordering alcohol on a subscription basis.

 

Apps like Deliveroo make it easy to order restaurant food to your door – while pubs can cash in on this, competition is fierce when there are hundreds of eateries readily available on apps.

 

Classic pub games are even getting a digital overhaul – for example, the popular fruit machine games that are classics in pubs – Sizzling Hot and others – are now available online.

 

Tax hikes

 

And add that all to huge tax hikes! Recently, it’s been announced that there will be a higher UK alcohol tax, which will apply to consumers and businesses (although the latter will be at lower rates). This has been put in place to discourage binge drinking.

 

How can pubs stay afloat?

 

In all this uncertainty, what are pubs doing to stay afloat?

 

  • Diversify: The most successful pubs seem to be offering a range of different services: accommodation, food that’s different from your usual pub grub, or a range of a particular spirit.
  • Emphasise the pub’s history: Historic pubs could fully lean into its story – is it centuries old? Have there been ghost sightings? Did anyone famous drink there? – to try to attract tourists.
  • Use technology: Technology like apps to order can help a pub to operate smoother and may mean that fewer members of staff are needed, reducing overheads.
  • Negotiate with suppliers: Ordering bulk items from suppliers can help to get cheaper rates.
  • Focus on customer service: Becoming well-known for excellent customer service can attract new faces. This could be done by training staff with customer service skills and asking patrons for positive reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

Conclusion

 

While the news about British pubs closing isn’t all that bright at the moment, these watering holes have been an institution in the country for hundreds of years. If landlords whether the storm, they could find that pubs have their heyday again!