Thousands of pubs lost to virus

THOUSANDS of bars, pubs, sports clubs and other licensed premises closed last year as the hospitality sector was hit by the impact of the coronavirus crisis, new research suggests. Britain lost around 6,000 licensed premises last year, nearly three times than in 2019, according to a study by consultants CGA and business advisory firm AlixPartners.

The pandemic and wave of lockdowns led to a net decline of 5,975 sites in 2020, around 5% of the total, said the report. The turmoil of 2020 led to the permanent closure of 9,930 sites, with just under 4,000 opening for the first time, according to the study. The number of restaurants, pubs, bars and sports and social clubs all fell last year amid the ban on events and socialising, said the report.

“Our report takes stock of the huge damage wreaked by the pandemic on the licensed sector in 2020,” said Karl Chessell of CGA. He said the stop-start trading of 2020 and Christmas shutdown meant “nearly 10,000 licensed venues have not been able to make it through, and it is sadly inevitable that thousands more casualties will follow.

“After such a bleak Christmas it is difficult to be optimistic about the market.