Pubs closing at record rate of 52 a week

Pubs across Britain are now closing at a record rate of 52 a week, more than seven a day, according to new figures released today.

The figures, compiled by CGA Strategy for the British Beer & Pub Association, show that closures for the first six months of this year have increased by a third - up from 39 a week in the last six months of 2008.

The figures are net and include new pubs that have opened.

The study suggests 2,377 pubs have closed in the last 12 months.

And this has led to the loss of 24,000 jobs in the sector, in the same period.

BBPA chief executive David Long said: "The recession is proving extremely tough for Britain's pubs. However, those economic pressures have been made much worse by a government that has continued to pile on tax and regulatory burdens."

Based on these figures, there are now 53,466 pubs in Britain, down from 58,600 in the year before the Licensing Act came into force.

In the last three years 5,134 pubs have closed.

The BBPA has also highlighted the impact the closures are having on the government's coffers.

The figures suggest pub closures over the last year have cost the government more than £254m in lost taxes - a loss that is increasing by more than £5.5 million a week. Sector job losses are also costing the government an additional £1.53m a week in job seekers allowance, the study says.

Long added: "Government should look at valuing and rewarding pubs as community assets.

"Not only would this have social policy benefits by supporting a hub of community cohesion, but financial policy benefits in terms of tax revenues, particularly at a time when the public purse is stretched."

He said that pubs did not want "special" treatment, just "equitable" treatment and the government should stop any more tax increases or red tape burdens.