LONDON, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Industry figures show that pubs and bars across Britain have been closing at an average rate of one a day, with the total number of licensed premises down by around 25 percent since 2000.
At this rate, between 300 and 400 pubs are expected to call last orders this year.
Official data underscore the scale of the long-term contraction. The number of pubs stood at around 65,000 in 2000, but has since fallen to roughly 40,000.
The government has recently announced a 15 percent cut in business rates for pubs.
While the move has been welcomed by the sector, many licensees argue that it is not enough to stem the pace of closures.
Dawn Hopkins, a publican of 25 years and licensee of the 170-year-old Rose Inn in Norwich, told Xinhua in an interview that the outlook for 2026 is deeply concerning.
Pubs are facing a "huge barrage of cost increases," she said, warning that operators have little option but to pass rising costs on to customers.
Hopkins noted that many operators are no longer able to invest in their businesses or staff and are instead focused on survival.
Ignazio Cabras, a professor at Northumbria University, said the loss of one in four pubs over the past quarter century has serious implications for communities and local economies alike.
"Pubs are often the only places where people can meet and socialise, particularly in rural areas," Cabras told Xinhua.
"Once they disappear, they are very difficult to replace. They also provide employment and opportunities for young people entering the labour market."
Despite the bleak outlook, Cabras believes that British pubs will not disappear entirely but will need to adapt to survive.
Many are already diversifying their services, shifting towards food and family-oriented offerings or partnering with local businesses to cut costs and draw in customers, he said. ■