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last mo.

UK Pubs Warn of 378 Closures and 5,600 Job Losses as Industry Demands Tax Overhaul

Industry leaders say profit-based taxation is the key to stemming closures that threaten community hubs

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Overview

  • The British Beer and Pub Association forecasts 378 permanent closures across England, Wales and Scotland this year, putting more than 5,600 jobs at risk.
  • The trade body reports that for every £3 spent at a pub, £1 goes to taxes and cites cuts to pandemic-era rates relief alongside hikes in VAT, beer duty, employer National Insurance and waste disposal costs as critical pressures.
  • Greene King chief executive Nick Mackenzie is calling to replace property-based business rates with a levy on pub profits to secure an estimated £13.7 million in annual savings for reinvestment.
  • Industry figures are urging the government to mitigate extended producer responsibility charges, reduce employer National Insurance contributions and cut beer duty to protect local economies and supply chains.
  • Chancellor Rachel Reeves has acknowledged the need for reform but has yet to publish an interim report or enact substantive changes, raising fears of irreversible damage to the sector.