In 2023, there were 45,350 pubs operating in the United Kingdom. This denoted a slight decrease from the previous year, and continued the downward trend that had been in place since at least 2000.
What is the largest pub chain in the UK?
In the 2023 financial year, Stonegate ranked as the selected leading pub chain in the UK in terms of units, with over 4,000 properties under its management. Meanwhile, the popular chain JD Wetherspoon had 800 properties.
Why are pubs in decline in the UK?
Public houses, once considered an important pillar of British communities, have faced several challenges related to changing consumer behavior. The 2007 indoor smoking ban and rising alcohol prices deterred people from drinking in pubs, sparking a trend in ‘pre-loading’ on cheap supermarket-bought alcohol before going out. More recently, the cost of living crisis in the UK has put extra pressure onto consumers' wallets and purses, making eating and drinking out too expensive for many.
Number of public houses operating in the United Kingdom from 2000 to 2023
(in 1,000s)
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British Beer & Pub Association. (January 1, 2024). Number of public houses operating in the United Kingdom from 2000 to 2023 (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 25, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/310723/total-number-of-pubs-in-the-united-kingdom/
British Beer & Pub Association. "Number of public houses operating in the United Kingdom from 2000 to 2023 (in 1,000s) ." Chart. January 1, 2024. Statista. Accessed December 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/310723/total-number-of-pubs-in-the-united-kingdom/
British Beer & Pub Association. (2024). Number of public houses operating in the United Kingdom from 2000 to 2023 (in 1,000s) . Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/310723/total-number-of-pubs-in-the-united-kingdom/
British Beer & Pub Association. "Number of Public Houses Operating in The United Kingdom from 2000 to 2023 (in 1,000s) ." Statista, Statista Inc., 1 Jan 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/310723/total-number-of-pubs-in-the-united-kingdom/
British Beer & Pub Association, Number of public houses operating in the United Kingdom from 2000 to 2023 (in 1,000s) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/310723/total-number-of-pubs-in-the-united-kingdom/ (last visited December 25, 2024)
Number of public houses operating in the United Kingdom from 2000 to 2023 (in 1,000s) [Graph], British Beer & Pub Association, January 1, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/310723/total-number-of-pubs-in-the-united-kingdom/