NTIA Comments on More Than 200 Pubs Closed in Six Months Amid Tax Hikes
19 August 2025 - Press releaseMichael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, said:
“The scale of pub closures we are witnessing is devastating for communities across the country. Eight pubs a week – more than 200 in just six months – are disappearing, and this is not only a blow to local economies but to the social fabric of villages, towns and cities. These are places where people come together, where communities are built and memories made – once they are gone, they are gone forever.
It is particularly alarming to see pubs demolished or converted to other uses at such speed. This isn’t just about temporary closures – these venues are being permanently erased, and with them the chance of revival. The sector is being besieged on all sides, from rising taxes and labour costs to planning challenges that are fundamentally weakening the foundations of hospitality and the night time economy.
It is devastating to see the pace of losses ramping up. The Government must pay attention and act decisively. Without urgent, supportive measures in the autumn budget – particularly on tax and planning protections – we risk losing even more of these vital institutions that sit at the heart of our culture and heritage.”
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