Pubs are this country’s social and economic anchor, a cornerstone of rural and coastal tourism especially.
Drawing millions of weary travellers seeking a warm welcome, second-to-none beers and ales, historic charm, and a genuine slice of British culture; a roaring hearth, exposed wooden beams, and, the pièce de résistance - a Sunday roast overflowing with a rich pan gravy.
Nearly two‑thirds of international visitors (63.6%) plan to visit a pub when they come to the UK, more than theatres or galleries, and visitors who do so spend more during their stay. But this isn’t just about Britain as an international destination.
Domestic visitors don’t lag behind their foreign counterparts by any means, rating pubs highly for their atmosphere, heritage, and sense of place. Among those who stay in pubs, 50% cite the friendlier atmosphere, 53% the traditional charm, and 53% the relaxed environment as key factors.
With 45,500 rooms available to book in pubs, the offering generates around £22,000 each year per pub. Tourism doesn’t just benefit pubs - it sustains them.
Growth needs support
It is against this backdrop that the debate over a visitor levy takes on real importance for Britain’s pubs. Let’s just state at the outset - it’s wrong in principle.
That said, the stated intention, to invest more in destinations is important, but a tax should be the go-to solution for driving much need growth in tourist areas.
However, if the Government is to push ahead with this misguided policy, it is even more important that the levy is very carefully designed and avoids the risk of placing yet another cost and regulatory burden on a sector already among the most heavily taxed in the entire economy.
One where one in every three pounds spent in a pub goes straight to the Exchequer and where closures continue at an existential pace.
Backing pubs to drive tourism
Pubs have always been at the heart of Britain’s identity. They are where communities come to connect, where our shared stories live, a home away from home and, increasingly where visitors from across the world come to be immersed in an inimitably British experience.
Tourism is one of the great engines of the UK economy, responsible for over 2.1m jobs and contributing billions each year. It thrives when pubs thrive.
Pubs need to be recognised as part of our cultural and tourism infrastructure, not treated as an afterthought and not as a tax cash cow.
Any levy ought to be strategic, transparent, and reinvested directly into the areas and businesses that sustain the visitor experience.
“As Chair of the Tourism Alliance, I see enormous potential ahead – measures that will have a direct and contributory boost to growth: simplifying visas, improving transport availability and reliability, modernising skills and training, reforming business rates, and elevating Britain’s global marketing presence."
BBPA CEO Emma McClarkin
All of this would support our pubs as much as our wider visitor economy. And all of it reflects a simple truth: when we make it easier to visit Britain, we make it easier for Britain’s pubs to flourish.
Our pubs are not just places to drink; they are one of the strongest assets we have in a fiercely competitive global tourism market.
The decisions we make now - on levies, tax, regulation, and investment - will determine whether they continue to be engines of economic growth and community life, or whether more shutters come down on highstreets across the country.
We cannot afford to get this wrong. Working together, we can build a visitor economy that is vibrant, competitive, and fair while ensuring that Britain’s pubs remain where they belong - at its very heart.
