Analysis of official Government data by real estate adviser Altus Group reveals that the overall number of pubs in England and Wales fell to 40,835 at the end of the first half of 2020 – down just 228 during the first half of 2020, despite enforced closures.
Pubs in England and Wales by region
Altus Group says this compares with a loss of 235 pubs during the first half of 2019 and 473 during the whole of 2019.
Overall pub numbers in England and Wales
H2 2018: 41,536
H1 2019: 41,301
H2 2019: 41,063
H1 2020: 40,835
The rate at which pubs are ‘vanishing’ from the communities that they once served, either being demolished or converted into other types of use, such as homes and offices, has halved from the 914 lost during the whole of 2018.
Robert Hayton, Head of UK business rates at Altus Group, said: “Pubs in England and Wales are receiving a one-year business rates holiday worth £768.12m which started on 1 April as well being eligible for £557.94m in grant funding.
“These interventions have gone a long way to saving our pubs ensuring that they can reopen safely.
“However, some change of use applications may have been held up due to delays in local planning whilst it also remains to be seen, once the first few cold beers have been downed, the impact on trade new strict rules will have moving forward.”
