One pub closes every two hours as further closures are likely due to staffing and supply issues

Research by consultants CGA and AlixPartners found that 106,000 pubs, restaurants and other licensed venues have closed since the start of the Covid pandemic

More than 9,000 pubs, restaurants and other licensed establishments have closed since the start of the Covid crisis – one every two hours on average.

Research by consulting firms CGA and AlixPartners found 106,000 such venues remain after an 8% decline between early 2020 and now.

And there are fears many more may close due to increases in energy, raw materials, wages and other costs for business owners.

The number of traditional community pubs, which rely primarily on drink sales, fell another 1.5% in the first three months of this year.

Another part of the hospitality sector that is still reeling despite the lifting of Covid restrictions are nightclubs, where numbers have fallen another 1.7% since the start of this year.

Karl Chessell, CGA Director of Hospitality Operators and Food for Europe, said: “Strong inflationary pressures, along with staffing and supply issues, are making conditions extremely difficult and we can expect a steady stream of closures and new openings throughout the year.”

Graeme Smith, Managing Director at AlixPartners, said: “While it is encouraging to see a smaller decline in websites than in previous quarters – and robust performances from some within the industry – the sector is still 9,200 fewer websites than when it started Pandemic two years ago.”