MORE than 150 pubs have disappeared for good so far this year, and dozens more are at risk of closure.
Soaring energy costs, rising food bills and less consumer demand has been piling pressure on landlords, according to Government data.
GettyMore than 150 pubs closed in the first three months of 2023[/caption]
The data, which was analysed by real estate intelligence firm Atlus Group, showed that 153 pubs vanished for good in the first three months of this year.
The overall number of pubs in England and Wales, including those vacant and being offered to let, dropped to 39,634 at the end of the first quarter to March 31.
As many as 51 pubs were lost each month, compared with 32 pubs a month on average in 2022. Last year, 386 pubs were lost for good.
The British Beer and Pub Association warned that the average energy bill for a pub would rise by £18,400 a year from this month with the energy bill relief scheme ending.
The end of the Government energy support for business energy bills is set to wipe out any benefit from a reduction to property taxes, according to the real estate advisory firm.
Alex Probyn, president of property tax at Altus Group, said “Pubs have seen their values for the business rates tax fall 17% overall and, with measures taken at last year’s Autumn Statement, that will mean a tax saving of £5,500 for the average pub.
“But that simply won’t compensate for the energy support being lost, making plots even more attractive for alternative investment.”
Below we look at all the major pub chains including Wetherspoons and Marston’s that have closed, or are closing branches.
Wetherspoons
Pub giant Wetherspoon has already closed over a dozen boozers across the UK, including in Hove, Derby and Wrexham.
In total, 31 pubs are still up for sale, or are currently under offer.
Under offer means that a buyer has presented an offer that is being considered by the seller.
It doesn’t mean that the sale is guaranteed, and it could still remain open if it doesn’t complete.
Last year, boss Tim Martin said far more people were now drinking in their homes rather than pubs.
Here we outline with Wetherspoons pubs have already closed, which ones are up for sale and those under offer.
The following 19 boozers have closed their doors for good:
Harvest Moon, OrpingtonAlexander Bain, WickChapel an Gansblydhen, BodminMoon on the Square, BasildonCoal Orchard, TauntonRunning Horse, Airside Doncaster AirportWild Rose, BootleEdmund Halley, Lee GreenThe Willow Grove, SouthportPostal Order, WorcesterNorth and South Wales Bank, WrexhamThe Colombia Press, WatfordThomas Leaper, DerbyCliftonville, HoveThe Malthouse, WillenhallChristopher Creeke, BournemouthMilan Bar, CroydonToll Gate, Turnpike LaneThe Malthouse, Willenhall
The following 20 pubs are currently under offer:
The Butlers Bell, StaffordThe Percy Shaw, HalifaxFoxley Hatch, PurleyAsparagus, BatterseaMillers Well, East HamHudson Bay, Forest GateAngel, IslingtonThe Billiard Hall, West BromwichCapitol, Forest HillThe Bankers Draft, ElthamMoon on the Hill, HarrowLast Post, LoughtonThe General Sir Redvers Buller, CreditonThe Hudson Bay, LondonSaltoun Inn, FraserburghThe John Masefield, New FerryThe Alfred Herring, Palmers GreenThe Crosse Keys, LondonSilkstone Inn, BarnsleyThe Bank House, Cheltenham
The following 11 pubs are still up for sale and at risk of closing:
Worlds Inn, RomfordWrong ‘Un, BexleyheathJolly Sailor, HanhamThe Moon & Bell, LoughboroughThe Widow Frost, MansfieldThe Rising Sun, Redditch – closing on April 16Sennockian, SevenoaksAdmiral Sir Lucius Curtis, SouthamptonLord Arthur Lee, FarehamThe Saltoun Inn, FraserburghPlough & Harrow, Hammersmith
Marston’s
Marston’s Brewery has put 61 pubs up for sale following a review of its estate.
Boozers in the Midlands, Yorkshire, Sussex and Wales have been put on the market by Marston’s.
The sale of the pubs are being managed by commercial real estate agency Christie & Co.
It doesn’t mean that venues will close yet, they’ll stay open until they are bought and the new owner may chose to keep the venue running as a pub.
Below is a full list of the 61 Marston Brewery sites up for sale:
Admirals Table, BridgwaterAlbert Vaults, HolyheadBax Castle, HorshamBedford Arms, DerbyBellflower, PrestonBlacksmiths, WakefieldBlenheim, DerbyBlue Pig, KidderminsterBluebell, TelfordBradford Arms, OswestryBridge Inn, RichmondBull & Butcher, NottinghamBush Inn, DudbeyCrates & Grapes, MansfieldCrooked House, DudleyCross Keys, Colwyn BayDerwent Walk, ConsettDuke of Wellington, WrexhamEvergreen Inn, TenbyFirebug, LeicesterFloaters Mill, Fence HousesFountain Inn, StourbridgeGaribaldi Inn, StourbridgeGate Inn, MatlockGeorge Hotel, PenrithGriffin, HalifaxHampden Arms, WrexhamHarlequin, KetteringHarry Watkins, LlanelliHeart of England, NorthamptonJacksons Wharf, HartlepoolJubilee Inn, LeicesterKing Charles, Ross-on-WyeKing William, DudleyMalt Shovel, MatlockMarquess of Exeter, OakhamMitre Oak, Stourport-on-TrentOak Inn, CoventryOxleathers, StaffordPelican, SailsburyPlough Inn, NewarkRandlay Farmhouse, TelfordRed Lion, Burton-on-TrentRed Lion, TelfordRing O’Bells, MexboroughRising Sun, HuddersfieldRossmere, ClevelandRutland Arms, NottinghamSaddlers Arms, CardiganSpills Meadow, DudleySpital Vaults, ChesterStrickland Arms, PenrithTafarn Pennionyn, CaernarfonTipsy Terrace, CleethorpesTop Monkey, MoldTwthill Vaults, CaernarfonVictoria Hotel, DorchesterWellington, Pretson,Wheatsheaf, MansfieldWhite Lion, WiganWhite Swan Inn, York
Stonegate
Pub giant Stonegate, which is behind brands such as Slug and Lettuce and Be At One, is looking to sell off pubs to pay down its debt pile.
The chain, which is owned by private equity firm TDR Capital, has racked up £2.6billion in debt and reportedly plans to sell 1,000 of its pubs for an estimated £800million.
The chain has 4,492 pubs, bars and nightclubs across the country.
Stonegate declined to comment when approached by The Sun – so it’s unclear for now which venues could close their doors.
It’s not just pubs that are looking to shut branches , high street stores and banks are among those scaling back this year.
Here we’ve listed all the closures taking place this week.