Feeling the draught: CAMRA warns of pub sector plight
By Simon Hacker | 17th October 2024
New figures from pub guardians at the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) point to a bleak economic landscape amid rising licensee turnover and increasing sector closures.
On the back of a fresh Westminster lobbying campaign, CAMRA says its shocking data is a wake-up call for Chancellor Rachel Reeves as she approaches her first autumn budget on October 30.
CAMRA says its figures released today indicate an alarming rate of licensee turnover in the pub trade as the "crushing weight of unfair taxation and high operational costs leave businesses struggling".
The report shows:
● More than 1,200 pubs are likely to be shuttered this year, compared to around 1,000 in 2023 and 800 in 2022 as Britain emerged from the Pandemic.
● Beneath this headline, the rate of churn is identified as an even deeper problem, with many rescued premises finding they face the same financial hurdles that then force their own business failure.
Gary Timmins, CAMRA Pub and Club Campaigns Director, said: "Hardworking licensees who run busy and popular pubs should not be struggling to make ends meet. The trend in business closures that our data has highlighted is truly shocking and I hope this is a wake-up call for Government ahead of the Budget."
In recent years, the rate of pubs lost to conversion or demolition in England has slowed slightly as communities make use of planning protection and the right to have their say on the future of their local.

But despite this clear evidence of demand, CAMRA warns that thousands of licensees - many of whom have run successful businesses for years - are now struggling to pull their pubs from the brink of closure, with record numbers of venues being forced to shut their doors.

Without meaningful government action, Mr Timmins said pubs in all locations may be in jeopardy: "Hardworking licensees who run busy and popular pubs should not be struggling to make ends meet. The trend in business closures that our data has highlighted is truly shocking and I hope this is a wake-up call for Government ahead of the Budget."
He added: "Without meaningful change to our outdated and unfair tax system, this cycle will likely continue, with more licensees' businesses failing, higher rates of pubs being shuttered to their communities, and new operators stepping into an increasingly hostile business environment.
CAMRA wants to see a fundamental overhaul of the business rates system, a greater discount on the tax paid on pints at the bar, and a new VAT rate for hospitality.
It has launched a campaign tool on its website to guide supporters on lobbying their local MP.

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