England Cannot Afford to Lose Its Pubs, Restaurants and Hotels

Hospitality Matters: The closure of familiar names such as Beefeater and Brewers Fayre should concern us all.

It is part of a much bigger problem facing pubs, restaurants, and hotels across Britain, but the figures also show how heavily England is being affected.

Across Britain, the number of licensed hospitality premises fell by a net 305 in just the first three months of 2026. That is an average of 3.4 venues disappearing every day, leaving 98,609 licensed premises at the end of March.

When we look more closely at pubs, the effect on England becomes particularly striking. During 2025, 366 pubs across England and Wales disappeared permanently, meaning they were demolished or converted to another use. Analysis of the national figures shows that 338 of those losses were in England, more than 92 per cent of the total.

Regional Breakdown of English Pub Losses (2025)

These are not simply statistics. Every closure can mean jobs lost, suppliers losing customers, and communities losing places where people meet.

Now major restaurant chains are being affected. Whitbread is closing its remaining Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, and other branded restaurants as it restructures around Premier Inn. Thousands of jobs are affected.

Why Is This Happening?

There is no single cause. Hospitality businesses are being squeezed from several directions at once. The National Living Wage increased again in April 2026. Workers deserve a fair wage, but when the Workers of England Union’s campaign team interviewed businesses, they expressed that they must also find the money to pay it. They highlighted that the increase ran alongside National Insurance, energy, food, drink, rents, and business rates.

The living wage is vital for workers across England, so excessive business rates must be challenged so that businesses can support the living wage for employees.

Industry surveys in April found 64 per cent of hospitality businesses expected increased costs to result in job reductions, 51 per cent planned to cancel investment, and 42 per cent expected to reduce opening hours. Around 15 per cent said the increases could force venues to close.

The pressure on hotels is serious too. UK Hospitality estimated earlier this year that, without sufficient action on business rates, 574 hotels, 963 restaurants, and 540 pubs could be at risk of closure during 2026. These were forecasts, not confirmed closures, but they demonstrate the scale of concern within the industry.

The British Government has recognised some of the problem. Pubs received additional business-rates relief for 2026/27, and a review of the way pubs and hotels are valued for business rates was announced in August. This doesn’t go anywhere near enough though.

Protecting Hospitality, Employment, and Communities

The Workers of England Union believes hospitality is an industry worth protecting.

These businesses provide employment, apprenticeships, and first jobs. They support farmers, breweries, food producers, cleaners, drivers, maintenance workers, and countless other occupations. We must find a balance that protects decent wages while ensuring that the businesses employing those workers can survive. Once the pub, restaurant, or hotel at the heart of a community has gone, bringing it back can be extremely difficult.

England cannot afford simply to watch them disappear. Customers are under pressure as well. When households have less disposable income, meals out, drinks at the pub, and hotel stays are among the things people can reduce. That combination with high business rates will see the continuation of closures across England. Learn more about our workplace rights and economic advocacy.

Stephen Morris, General Secretary of the Workers of England Union, said:

“We need to ask what we want our towns and high streets to look like in five or ten years’ time. Empty buildings and darkened premises benefit nobody. Hospitality gives places character, brings people into town centres and creates economic activity that spreads far beyond the individual business. England has already seen too many familiar establishments disappear. We should not accept continued decline as inevitable. There needs to be a genuine national effort to make this sector an attractive place to invest, build a career and run a successful business.”

References: (NIQ/CGA: Hospitality Market Monitor, Q1 2026; Ryan property-tax analysis of official pub data, reported by The Morning Advertiser, May 2026; UKHospitality: April cost increases, 1 April 2026; UKHospitality: Hospitality set for 2,076 closures, 12 January 2026; HM Treasury: Business rates guidance and review of pub and hotel valuation methodology, 2026)

Key Takeaways

• Disproportionate English Impact: 338 out of 366 permanent UK pub closures in 2025 occurred in England, with the East Midlands (69) and North West (52) worst hit.
• Compounding Cost Squeeze: Venues face simultaneous pressures from high energy costs, business rates, inflation, and increased employment liabilities.
• Wider Economic Supply Chain: Venues support vital regional employment, including food producers, local breweries, cleaners, and maintenance workers.
• Call for Business Rates Reform: WEU urges fundamental reform to excessive business rates to allow employers to sustain living wages without closing down.