Ritika Gupta reports on the rising closure of London pubs as the hospitality sector is hit by tax hikes.

London

Pubs in London and across the UK are experiencing significant financial challenges, with over 200 closures reported in the first half of the year. Rising costs from increased minimum wages, national insurance contributions, and business rates have forced many establishments to pass expenses on to consumers, resulting in higher prices for customers.

Industry representatives highlight the broader economic impact, noting that the pub sector supports billions in economic activity and one million jobs. Calls are growing for government intervention, including business rates reform and tax relief, to prevent further closures and protect local communities.

Is trouble brewing for London pubs?

The pub is a central part of British culture, social life and the economy. Here at the Devonshire Arms, it's business as usual. But sadly, you don't have to walk too far to see boarded-up pubs, as trouble brews in the industry. More than 200 pubs in the UK closed in the first half of the year, official government figures show. That amounts to eight pubs a week, with London experiencing a significant number of these closures. This comes amid a challenging backdrop for the industry, with increases to the national minimum wage, national insurance contributions and business rates payments. Pubs and breweries are amongst the most heavily taxed business sectors in the UK. The Devonshire Arms is a quintessential example of a British pub, with roots back to the 18th century. But like many other pubs in the area, the rising costs have been passed on to the consumer, with the average price of a pint of beer now around £5. Tim Skinner, manager at the Devonshire Arms, is grappling with the changes. It's three big increases all coming in at exactly the same time in the April budget. So obviously there's been a lot of cost increases, in any case, in energy and operating costs over the last few years. But the national insurance increased directly, the business rates increased directly, and obviously maintaining the level of VAT where it is means that a business like this needs to find around £30,000 extra a year just to stay still, so it's a big impact. So these higher costs that you're facing, are you having to pass them on to the customers? We are, of course, but it is a little bit of both. So we're having to pass some of those costs on to the customers, but we're very mindful of where we sit in the marketplace. It is still very competitive, and we're having to fight for every pound that the customer is willing to spend. So we're trying to make savings where we can, but we're running out of opportunities to do that. With the industry in decline and numerous closures, British Beer and Pub Association spokesperson Charlie Hall says the knock-on effects to the economy will be significant. From grain to glass, our sector supports over £30 billion being pushed into the economy, £18 billion in taxes, one million jobs, and you can imagine when you've got one pub set to close every week this year, that does have a massive impact on the supply chain, everything from hot farmers to glass manufacturers. There are wider calls from the industry for the government to deliver changes in the upcoming autumn budget. Mick Howard, operations director of Star Pubs, highlights a need to reform business rates, cut beer duty, and avoid any further rises in national insurance contributions. Investing in tax relief, investing in some of the support pubs need is an investment in those communities, is an investment in jobs and is an investment in further taxes going into the exchequer. We'd like to see the promised business rates reform. Pubs are massively overburdened on their contribution on business rates. If nothing is done, Mick says more pubs will have to close their doors. We know that consumers are still going to pubs. They might go to pubs at different times now, they might go to pubs for different reasons, but they still go and visit their local pub. But without that support, if the cost is still going up, the pubs just won't be able to open their doors. Ritika Gupta, CNBC International, London.

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