Eight UK Pubs Close Weekly as 26% Report Loneliness, Sparking Fears of Worsening Social Isolation

Communities across the United Kingdom are facing a surge in loneliness as the rate of pub closures accelerates, with new research showing that the loss of local pubs is having a direct impact on social isolation. According to polling conducted by the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), two out of three people now see pubs as essential in combating loneliness, and one in three say they or someone they know has become more isolated after their local pub closed.

The data, released this week, reveals that 60% of respondents are worried about further pub closures in their area. Seventy percent consider pubs important or very important for their community’s social life. The BBPA says these findings highlight the urgent need for government intervention to support the sector, which is struggling under rising regulatory costs and economic pressures.

In the first half of 2025, eight pubs a week closed permanently across the UK, according to BBPA figures. Official government data shows that 209 pubs were demolished or converted for other uses between January and June. The closures come as pub owners face increased national insurance contributions, higher minimum wages, and rising business rates.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said in an interview that pubs are more than just places to buy a drink. “For many people, especially those living alone or struggling with isolation, the pub is one of the few places where someone knows their name and they can have a conversation,” she said. McClarkin called on the government to listen to campaigns like Long Live the Local, which advocates for policies to keep pubs open.

The survey also found that 40% of people have seen pubs close in their area and are concerned that these venues will not return. Since 2020, more than 2,000 pubs have closed across the UK. The BBPA predicts that one pub will close every day in 2025 unless action is taken.

Regional differences are clear in the survey results. In the North of England, 71% of people believe pubs are vital in tackling loneliness and isolation. In Wales and Scotland, 64% and 63% respectively share this view. The North West, North East, and Yorkshire and The Humber regions have lost a net total of 291 pubs since 2021. Wales has seen 132 closures and Scotland 206.

Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics show that 26% of people in Britain report feeling lonely at least some of the time—a number that has remained high since the Covid pandemic began in 2020. Some pubs have tried to address this issue directly; for example, a London pub has hosted Christmas Day gatherings for people spending the holiday alone, welcoming over 150 visitors who might otherwise have had no one to talk to.

McClarkin emphasized that for many people, especially those at risk of isolation, “the local pub is a lifeline, not a luxury.” She warned that continued closures could have devastating effects on communities already struggling with loneliness.

Philip Howell, professor at the University of Cambridge and author of a book on British pubs, said that removing pubs from neighborhoods damages social cohesion. “With rapidly rising levels of loneliness, we need pubs more than ever,” he said.

The BBPA is urging supporters to join its Long Live the Local campaign and contact their Members of Parliament before the next Budget announcement. The association is calling for reforms to business rates, tax cuts in line with European averages, and action on regulatory costs to help keep pubs open.

As economic pressures continue to mount on Britain’s pub sector, industry leaders warn that without swift government action, communities could lose even more of these vital social spaces—deepening an already serious loneliness crisis across the country.