Pub closures hit new high

UK pubs closed at a rate of more than seven per week in the first six months of the year, new figures show.

The research by the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) suggests that the rate of pub closures increased by a third during this period - up from 39 pubs a week in the second half of 2008.

The rate is the highest since the BPPA started monitoring closures in 1990.

Local pubs proved the most vulnerable, with 40 closures each week. Branded pubs and cafe-style bars on the other hand fared better, opening at a rate of two a week, the report said.

It also suggested that pubs that focus more on food than drink have been more resilient during the downturn, with just one closing every week.

The BBPA claims that dramatic job losses in the pub industry - 24,000 over the last 12 months - have been overlooked by the Government.

"Government now needs to listen to the pub sector in the same way it listens to other sectors suffering this level of job losses," said BBPA chief executive David Long.

"As a first step, Government should commit to not increasing the cost and complexity of running a pub, by stepping back from any more tax or red-tape increases."