Fifty pubs a month shut in first half of year in England and Wales, figures show

Number of pubs open fell to 39,096 by end of June and experts say tax rises in 2025 could result in more closures

Fifty pubs a month closed for good across England and Wales in the first half of this year, with experts warning that tax rises in 2025 could make it even harder for some businesses to keep their doors open.

Analysis by the real estate intelligence company Altus found that 305 pubs were forced to shut their doors permanently in the first six months of the year, meaning the number of pubs in England and Wales fell to 39,096 at the end of June.