In the past week, various trade bodies have used “devastating”, “alarming” “heart breaking” “shocking” “besieged” and “unsustainable” to describe how operators within the industry are grappling with soaring energy bills, punitive business rates, supply chain volatility and a recruitment crisis that shows no signs of easing.
The result? Eight pubs a week are currently closing their doors for good and communities are losing their social heart forever.
Yet amid this turmoil, the sector’s response to this remains fragmented.
The pub industry is represented by a patchwork of trade bodies, each doing valuable work for their members but often pulling in different directions from each other.
From the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) to the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), UKHospitality, the Society of Independent Brewers & Associates (SIBA), the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA), the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA), the British Pub Confederation and others – we have no shortage of voices. What we lack is one that speaks for all.
Missing the bigger picture
This fractured landscape weakens our collective influence. When trade bodies lobby separately, they dilute the urgency of our message. When they launch overlapping campaigns, they confuse the public and policymakers. And when they compete for attention, they risk missing the bigger picture: survival.
The farming sector has the National Farmers’ Union (NFU). Retail has the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Where is our unified front?
Imagine the power of a single, federated coalition – one that represents the full spectrum of the pub sector, from independents to managed houses, the late-night sector to brewers and suppliers. Such a body could:
• Co-ordinate lobbying efforts for VAT reform, energy relief and fairer business rates
• Launch national campaigns with consistent messaging and branding
• Present a united front to Government, media and the public
• Share one set of data, insights, and resources to strengthen the sector’s resilience
Unstoppable momentum
This isn’t about erasing identity. It’s about aligning strategy. Each organisation brings unique expertise – but together, they could bring unstoppable momentum.
Let’s shift from fragmentation to federation. From competition to collaboration. From noise to resonance.
The pub sector must put aside individual differences and strategically align without sacrificing the diversity of the trade. Identify shared goals, pool our resources and amplify our impact with a single, powerful message that cuts through political fog. Together we must identify and compose a united framework that protects pubs from future shocks.
Pubs are more than businesses – they’re cultural institutions. Their survival matters but without unity among trade bodies, we risk becoming a chorus of competing cries rather than a rallying anthem for change.
It’s time to stop working in parallel and start working in concert. The pint is half-empty… but it doesn’t have to be.
