Time up at 1,000 boozers

NEARLY 1,000 pubs called time for good last year.

The total number of pubs in the UK dropped by 994 in the 12 months to December.

Seaside towns were the worst affected, a report by market analysts CGA and Alixpartners found.

Blackpool was worst hit with 10.8% of licensed premises shutting in 2019.

However, Manchester and Liverpool have seen a 20% rise in pubs, bars and restaurants in five years.