Six pubs a week have vanished from UK communities since first lockdown, study finds

However, experts say sector has proved ‘remarkably resilient’ and been boosted by government support, reports Joanna Taylor

Roaring trade: pubs are doing great business as indoor hospitality returns after lockdown (PA)

Around six pubs have closed every week in the UK since the beginning of the first coronavirus lockdown, new figures show.

Over the past 14 months, 384 pubs have been converted to a different use or demolished, according to data compiled by real estate adviser Altus Group.

On 20 March last year there were 40,886 pubs in England and Wales, including those which were vacant and being offered to let.

That figure now stands at 40,502, according to the data: a 1 per cent decline.

Despite facing months of closures, curfews and serving restrictions, the rate of permanent closures slowed down from the previous year, Altus said.

The company added that this was likely owing to financial support measures including furlough, business rates holidays and hospitality grants.

Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, announced at this year’s spring Budget a £150m community ownership fund to try to help people save their local pubs from demolition and redevelopment.

Robert Hayton, UK president of expert services at Altus Group, said that the hospitality sector had proved “remarkably resilient” during the pandemic.

“Pubs have endured a torrid time during the pandemic but have proved remarkably resilient aided by government interventions such as furlough, grants, rates relief and liquidity in the form of cheap loans helping to keep the ‘pilot light on’ for their reopening,” he said.

Early statistics from the first day of indoor service revealed that sales at pubs, bars and restaurants were up by a quarter compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Figures compiled by CGA revealed that average sales at reopened venues were 24.9 per cent higher on Monday 17 May than on the equivalent Monday in May 2019.

Punters have been allowed to meet in groups of six or two households indoors since the UK reached the third stage of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

It is the first time in around eight months that indoor hospitality has been open nationwide.

Additional reporting by Press Association