The number of pubs in the UK fell to its lowest level for a decade in 2015, according to a campaign group calling on the government to cut beer tax further.

New figures published on Thursday by the Campaign for Real Ale show that there were 52,750 UK pubs at the end of last year. The rate of decline slowed to 27 pub closures a week in the second half of 2015, compared with 29 in the six months before this and 45 in 2009 – the worst year for last orders.

Camra argues that the sector requires further beer tax relief to help with what it warns could be a “fragile recovery”.

The figures, compiled as part of a tracking exercise by independent research company CGA Strategy, are net closures, taking into account new openings.

The rate of closures of community pubs fell last year from 26 a week to 20.



Camra is calling on the government to continue and strengthen its support for pubs by helping keep beer affordable and ensuring that more pubs stay open through tax cuts.



“The latest figures show that the work of campaigners across Camra, the wider pub and beer industry, and the government is taking effect and arresting the decline in the number of pubs being lost every week” said Tim Page, Camra’s chief executive.

“However, it’s a fragile recovery which could very quickly be reversed if the government fails to build on this positive development and misses the chance to support the British pub and beer industry by reducing tax again.”

About 4,000 Camra members have already lobbied their MPs to call for a reduction in beer duty and the organisation is urging as many people as possible to make their views known.



A report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research last year showed that pubs and drinkers would benefit from a cut in beer tax, conclusions supported by the improving figures.

It found that beer would have increased by 16p a pint, there would have been more than 1,000 additional pub closures, 750m fewer pints would have been sold and 26,000 jobs would have not been created, had the chancellor not cut beer tax in 2014.

Page said: “It’s pleasing to see that our campaigning to protect community pubs is having an effect, with closure numbers reducing. Local pubs are vital to their communities and the wellbeing of their users, as a recent report from Oxford University showed.

“As well as reducing tax, the government can continue to support these pubs by strengthening national planning regulations and supporting local groups seeking to list pubs as assets of community value.”