Pub closures 2025

[Gzbaggy]

Bitter Suite, Lichfield first one to shut

I worry this might be a long thread

[Tom Joad]

Bitter Suite, Lichfield first one to shut

I worry this might be a long thread

No! I made my 1st visit there in December and had it down to call in more often. Decent guys running it too, shame.

[KRO]

Bloody hell. Did you have a few beers in there last month or rob the till?

[Tom Joad]

Bloody hell. Did you have a few beers in there last month or rob the till?

Arf!
Obviously my half of mild wasn't enough to keep it going.

[KRO]

Tough trade to be in now. And the OP is right, this thread will keep growing. Different world now. Just don’t get the young ‘uns going out Thursday-Sunday like I did 30 odd years back

[Josh1873]

Some pubs are pricing themselves out of the game. I am aware costs have risen etc. but locally there's a massive difference in prices in the price of Guinness and Madri, in particular, between pubs within walking distance. They're either setting ridiculous prices, being robbed blind by the same brewery that's supplying the same beer at cheaper prices for competitors, or they're not shopping around for better prices.

[Tom Joad]

Some pubs are pricing themselves out of the game. I am aware costs have risen etc. but locally there's a massive difference in prices in the price of Guinness and Madri, in particular, between pubs within walking distance. They're either setting ridiculous prices, being robbed blind by the same brewery that's supplying the beer, or they're not shopping around for better prices.

That is exactly what is happening. My mate ran a local pub but was forced by the brewery to pay through the nose whereas the pub down the road isn't tied and can buy and sell beer much cheaper. TBF, it attracted a right lairy crowd though. Looking at the amount of fans drinking cans at away games it looks like a good many are choosing the offy over the pub.

[Borin' Baggie]

Some pubs are pricing themselves out of the game. I am aware costs have risen etc. but locally there's a massive difference in prices in the price of Guinness and Madri, in particular, between pubs within walking distance. They're either setting ridiculous prices, being robbed blind by the same brewery that's supplying the beer, or they're not shopping around for better prices.

Labour costs have jumped over the last 5 years, commercial rents have jumped and business rates are broken in that they actively penalise businesses located in built-up areas (which is where pubs need to be for the most part). Those are the 3 biggest outlays for running a pub, fiddling around with duties is not going to cut the mustard (unless Hudds wants back from his sabbatical on this board to correct me on rates), more variety on beer might help with the cartel behaviour of some breweries but look at how popular Guinness has been over winter to demonstrate that's easier said than done.

Margins are tight, I fail to see what they can realistically do to address that with those 3 things going against them. Couple that in with a shift in drinking habits (caused in part by the cost of beer going up due to those three factors, creating a feedback loop).

[CarlosCorbewrong]

Then add in the upcoming rise in employer’s NI and it’s quite clear to see that Rachel Thieves is closing pubs down through spite

[baggiebloke]

The Wheelie Thirsty in Ow Dill. Dried up.