Two British Pubs Close Per Day in Q1 2026

British pubs closed at a rate of almost two per day in the first three months of 2026, with 161 establishments shutting down across England, Scotland and Wales, according to the British Beer and Pub Association. This pace resulted in the loss of around 2,400 jobs. Scotland suffered the heaviest losses, with 41 closures between January and March 2026.

The closures follow 336 British pubs reporting shutdowns in 2025, highlighting persistent pressures on the hospitality sector. Pubs and hospitality venues have faced increased labour costs, rising business rates and shifting consumer habits in recent years. Wales was the only region to report an increased number of pubs in the latest data for Great Britain.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said the scale of these closures is avoidable because pubs are doing a brisk trade, but their profits are wiped out by a disproportionate tax burden and huge costs. 'We want to work with government to establish a permanent long-term plan that will deliver permanently lower bills, a fairer system and protect this treasured sector,' McClarkin said.

The government announced 15% tax relief for pubs and music venues, which came into effect in April 2026.

A government spokesperson said this would be followed by a two-year freeze on business rates. The government also increased the Hospitality Support Fund to £10m to help venues grow and extended World Cup opening hours for pubs. The spokesperson added that the Pride in Palace programme allocates grants for locally-led solutions in 280 neighbourhoods in England as part of efforts to revitalise high streets.

This comes on top of capping corporation tax, cutting alcohol duty on draught pints and six cuts in interest rates, benefiting businesses in every part of Britain. The average worker in the UK earns £39,000. Amid these economic pressures, Great British Energy is actively looking for three new non-executive directors, according to GB News.

The roles would pay £1,000 per day each for working three days per week, amounting to £30,000 a year per director. Over three years, the total remuneration for each would be £270,000, based on the job advert. Great British Energy, sponsored by the Department for Energy Security & Net-Zero, was formed in May 2025.

A Great British Energy spokesman said the organization is focused on driving the clean energy transition which will deliver a more secure and independent energy system for the UK. 'Non-executive Directors play an important part in providing independent oversight, specialist expertise and effective management across public bodies,' the spokesman said.

Claire Coutinho, shadow secretary of state for energy security and net zero, criticized the salaries.

'GB Energy has a Chief Executive on a plum six figure salary, and huge salaries for Non-Executive Directors to achieve what? Nobody knows,' Coutinho said. Richard Tice, Reform UK deputy leader, also condemned the pay.

'It is outrageous that the Government is paying £1,000 a day for three non-executive directors at Great British Energy while families struggle to pay their bills,' Tice said. 'At a time of high taxes and a cost-of-living crisis, this kind of spending is completely tone deaf. William Yarwood, campaigns director of the Taxpayers' Alliance, echoed the concerns.

'At a time when working families are dreading their next energy bill, it is frankly insulting to see Great British Energy handing out £1,000-a-day taxpayer-funded gigs to boardroom bureaucrats,' Yarwood said. 'We were promised this scheme would lower bills, but instead, taxpayers are being squeezed dry to bankroll another bloated government quango.

The energy price cap for quarter two, from April to June 2026, was set at £1,641 for the average customer, according to Ofgem.

Cornwall Insight stated that the energy price cap is changed quarterly, factoring in wholesale energy costs and non-wholesale costs.