12,000 licensed venues close their doors for good amid Covid-19 lockdown

1 March 2021, 06:38

A pub is boarded up in Central London
A pub is boarded up in Central London. Picture: PA

By Kate Buck

Almost 12,000 pubs, bars and restaurants have been forced to shut down since the beginning of last year, it has been revealed, as the dramatic impact of the pandemic on the hospitality sector is laid bare.

New data tracking more than 100,000 venues licensed to serve alcohol showed that more than one had shut every hour in the 13 months from the start of 2020 to January 31.

The latest market recovery monitor from CGA and AlixPartners revealed that 11,894 venues have shut their doors for good over the period.

Read more: Rishi Sunak unveils £1.65bn boost for Covid-19 vaccine rollout ahead of Budget

It said that 170 new sites have been recorded since the end of December 2019, but closures nonetheless outnumber opening by three-to-one.

There are also concerns that this figure could increase more sharply as venues remain shut due to the latest national lockdown.

"Do not wreck this now," warns Professor Jonathan Van-Tam

"These numbers set out the full, devastating impact of the pandemic on Britain's licensed premises," said Karl Chessell, CGA's business unit director for hospitality operators and food.

"The wipe-out of Christmas trade was clearly the final blow for many businesses, and the long wait that others now face to open their doors sadly means closures will mount even higher."

Hospitality venues will be able to welcome customers outside from April 12 at the earliest, with customers allowed indoors from May 17 at the earliest."

Read more: First cases of Brazil 'variant of concern' detected in England and Scotland

However, the report said that less than half, 43.2%, of England's pubs, bars and restaurants have an outdoor area of some kind.

Mr Chessell said: "Pubs have proved more durable than restaurants in recent months, and outside service will give many of them a useful kickstart if the sun shines.

"Amid all the closures, it's also encouraging to see a steady flow of new entrants to the market.

Around one venue every hour closed for good in the past year
Around one venue every hour closed for good in the past year. Picture: PA

"We remain very confident about the long-term future of the sector, but unfortunately there is more pain to come first."

AlixPartners managing director Graeme Smith said: "While the Prime Minister says the country is on a one-way road to freedom, the hospitality sector still faces months of subjugation.

"Businesses have spent almost an entire year closed or operating under the most severe restrictions, and the Government's roadmap to reopening does very little to ease their pain in the near-term.

"Businesses are burning through cash at an alarming rate as costs stack up, and within the sector there is despair as to why hospitality is at the back of the queue when it comes to reopening.

"The Budget is absolutely crucial to the future survival of thousands of sector businesses; a substantial package of financial support is needed to prevent greater numbers of closures across this year and beyond."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have reportedly shared their first phone call since the election.

US ‘could recognise Crimea as Russian in peace deal’ as Trump to hold ceasefire talks with Putin

Paul Young and his wife Lorna had been on holiday in Santorini when the fall happened

Paul Young rushed into intensive care after horror fall on luxury Greek holiday

Owen Cooper

Adolescence star Owen Cooper, 15, reveals iconic role he wants to play and how his friends reacted Netflix drama

Israel launched a wave of strikes on Gaza last night - the largest attack since the January ceasefire

'Greatest fear realised': Families of Israeli hostages slam Netanyahu as Gaza strikes put captives 'at grave risk'

A group picture of all the researchers – from various science projects -- at the South African research station, SANAE IV, Antar

Revealed: Why Antarctic scientist 'snapped' on remote base as team begs for rescue after 'assaults and death threats'

Rescue teams at work after the plane crashed into the sea, on Roatan island, Honduras

Plane crash kills seven including popular music star after jet goes down off Honduras coast

The NHS watchdog has called for overweight patients to be weighed each year.

Overweight patients should be weighed every year so doctors can monitor them, says NHS watchdog

Pat McFadden

Pat McFadden defends changes to welfare system as he insists Cabinet 'united' behind plans - despite backlash

Driving test rules have changed

Warning over new rules for driving tests, as ministers push to slash waiting times

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa Portrait

Fresh twist in death of Gene Hackman’s wife Betsy as it emerges she called doctors a day after police say she died

Exclusive
Civil servants are having their credit cards frozen

'We need to treat taxpayer money with respect': Ministers freeze civil service credit cards after spending quadruples

Exclusive
Part of the River Trent had 50 times the bacteria of safe swimming water

'There's something wrong with the water': Bacteria in UK river 50 times higher than safe swimming levels

The crash occurred on Friday night, near Shifnal, and involved a silver Audi A1

Third teenager dies after horror crash in West Midlands as one left fighting for life

King Charles III And Queen Camilla

King and Queen set to meet Pope next month despite pontiff's ill health

This image taken from NASA video shows the SpaceX capsule carrying NASA astronauts Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore and Nick Hague.

NASA astronauts 'stranded' in space for months begin journey back to Earth in SpaceX Dragon capsule

Israel has launched the largest strikes on Gaza since the ceasefire agreement with Hamas, killing and injuring dozens while promising 'increasing military force'.

Israel-Hamas ceasefire collapses as IDF launches 'extensive' strikes on Gaza killing 'at least 330'