The restaurant industry generally has a high turnover rate, with new and old establishments routinely leaving and entering the market. A study released in January 2021, revealed that significantly less restaurant, pub, and bar sites had opened in the United Kingdom in 2020 than in 2019, at only ***** sites. Comparatively ***** sites were recorded as having opened in the UK in 2019. Likely, this was a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In 2020, food and drink services across the United Kingdom experienced closures as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The locations of these closures were spread fairly evenly throughout Britain, however, high street locations suffered especially with ***** closures.

Due to lockdown measures resulting from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, food and drink services within the United Kingdom saw a marked decline in the number of premises trading throughout the year in 2020. Of the numerous permanent closures that were reported in that year, ***** sites were independent venues.

In 2024, there were 45,000 pubs operating in the United Kingdom. This denoted a slight decrease from the previous year, and continued the downward trend that had been in place since at least 2000. What is the largest pub chain in the UK? In the 2023 financial year, Stonegate ranked as the selected leading pub chain in the UK in terms of units, with over 4,000 properties under its management. Meanwhile, the popular chain JD Wetherspoon had 800 properties. Why are pubs in decline in the UK? Public houses, once considered an important pillar of British communities, have faced several challenges related to changing consumer behavior. The 2007 indoor smoking ban and rising alcohol prices deterred people from drinking in pubs, sparking a trend in ‘pre-loading’ on cheap supermarket-bought alcohol before going out. More recently, the cost of living crisis in the UK has put extra pressure onto consumers' wallets and purses, making eating and drinking out too expensive for many.

Restaurant, pub, and bar closures in the United Kingdom were heavily weighted toward the second half of the year in 2020. In Q3, between July and September, **** percent of closures occurred. Comparatively, only *** percent of closures took place in Q2 between April and June.

COVID-19 lockdown regulations affecting the on-trade in England, Scotland, and Wales during 2020.

Over the five years through 2024-25, Pubs & Bars revenue is expected to edge downwards at compound annual rate of 5.5%. It's no surprise falling alcohol consumption isn’t good news for pubs and bars have. Britons’ sharp focus on health and well-being means the number of individuals going teetotal or cutting down on alcohol is rising rapidly, forcing establishments to close or to adapt. Not all hope is lost; establishments fight back by introducing a more extensive low and no-alcohol-free menu while focusing on the gastronomic side to draw in patrons. Still, times have been challenging as pubs and bars have faced rampant inflation, rising prices and inventory bills. As consumers grapple with weak growth across incomes, passing on price increases isn't the best idea. Alcohol duties rose again in February 2025, with wine and spirits becoming significantly more expensive. The average pint of lager now costs £4.83, up from £3.96 in 2022, deterring cost-conscious consumers. Staffing shortages, rising wage bills and business rates only add to the growing challenges. In 2024-25, revenue is anticipated to increase by 1.2%, reaching £18.9 billion, and profit is expected to reach 13%. Over the five years through 2029-30, full restaurant revenue is expected to increase at a compound annual rate of 4.4% reaching £23.4 billion. Labour, business rates and wages remain points of contention as the yearly reviews and anticipated increases take effect at the start of every financial year in April. Competition from off-trade shops like supermarkets will intensify, especially with fierce price wars. Meanwhile, declining alcohol consumption—driven by Gen Z’s health-conscious values—is shifting demand towards low-and-no options. Poor visibility of alcohol-free choices costs the sector £800 million annually Just Drinks, reports, yet successful execution could add 109 million pub visits. Pubs are responding by embracing innovation, from tech-enabled staffing to premiumisation strategies. Consumers now seek quality over quantity, with Baileys and Jack Daniel’s remaining popular (YouGov). Greene King’s extended partnership with Estrella Galicia and food-focused formats reflect this shift.

Nearly one half of respondents in Great Britain expressed strong support for closing down eating and drinking establishments for two weeks in areas where coronavirus (COVID-19) cases continue to rise, as of September 2020. Around 20 percent were opposed to such measures.

More than **** of all English residents between the ages of ** and ** visited pubs, bars or clubs as a free-time activity during 2017/18. Those aged 25 to 44 were the most likely to attend a pub, bar or club, with **** percent of respondents in that age category visiting such an establishment. Are pubs disappearing? Despite most of the adult population under the age of ** visiting pubs, bars and clubs, the frequency with which people are visiting their favorite pub is on the decline. While ** percent of consumers reported visiting the pub on a weekly basis in 2010, this figure dropped to ** percent by 2017. Over the same period of time, the United Kingdom saw a net reduction of approximately ***** in the number of pubs in operation.   New trends continue to attract pub goers Although there are fewer venues, the nation’s pub culture has undergone somewhat of a transformation. The popularity of pubs for dining out has resulted in many businesses increasing their food offering and capitalizing on new drinking trends such as craft and non-alcoholic beers. Independent pubs, although with a seemingly greater risk of closure, have in fact increased in number: around ***** more independently owned pubs were in operation in the UK in 2017 compared to ten years earlier. This may be due in part to the emergence of micro-breweries, and consumers preferring to visit traditional pubs or other independents which can cater to the niche tastes the micro-brewery allows, rather than the larger pub chains. Independently owned pubs continue to account for the largest proportion of pubs in the UK, the rest being managed, tenanted or leased by a brewer or pub company.   

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the United Kingdom, bars, pubs and restaurants were forced to close to visitors on March 20, 2020. Footfall in the hospitality sector showed a staggering decline compared to last year; Nightclubs had already seen 75 percent fewer visitors in the last seven days and restaurarnts 74 percent fewer. Footfall in restaurants fell by 94 percent on the day of the closure.

Sports and social clubs accounted for the highest number of licensed food and drink premises in Great Britain as of September 2024. In total, there were ****** sports and social clubs in Britain. Community pubs had the second-highest number of premises, with nearly ******.

In England and Wales, 700 pubs, bars and nightclubs were legally authorized to sell alcohol 24-hours a day. An additional 3,200 hotel bars held the license as well.

Licensing Act 2003 In 2003 a somewhat controversial Licensing Act was passed in England and Wales that abolished fixed closing times for bars and nightclubs, giving them the potential to open for 24-hours, 7 days a week. This was dependent on considerations such as the impact on businesses and local residents. Even if a venue holds the license, it may not necessarily operate 24 hours per day. Compared to numbers of licensed drinking premises, those holding such a license are relatively low.