03/08/2025
Real talk for a second - This write up is so spot on and helps illustrate how the pub industry has been hit by wave after wave of successive misfortune. Because pubs still make money on paper for breweries, landlords who rent their premises out, the tax man gets his cut, no one really sees the person serving the beers getting drawn close to the bone just to keep the lights one. The other big killer this write up doesnt mention is brexit and the devestating effect that had on the workforce available in hospitality in this country. Oh! and the rise in minimum wage is great for workers but it has jumped nearly £4 in five years! The rising costs are on all sides.
We are being sucked dry by parasites - those with wealth and power exploiting the hard work of those with the passion trying to make a difference.
We are not just witnessing the closing of dead pubs, we are witnessing the closure of successful, thriving pubs who are having their vitality sucked dry by insane bills, taxes and rent.
Those that know me have seen me struggle through this last year from time to time, there is one reason and one reason only - The odds against us are stacked so high, the old days of a pub being the community's meeting place are being vanquished. Where will we go when we have no more inns? Or the ones we do have are all owned by mega breweries serving the same generic mass produced beers that exist to make corporations richer.
Things cannot continue as they are, I do not think. We are witnessing the collapse of old structures that have stood for generations. Who knows what will happen next for this little ship of ours, trying to sail the ocean of capitalism is exhausting work just to make landlords, utility companies and government some coin that will likely go on paying wealthy people more wealth while we scrabble in the dirt to survive.
🚨 WHY ARE PUBS CLOSING?
Because we’re all working ourselves into the ground… for 12p a pint. No, seriously. Read on 👇
Our little pub is BUSY. Regulars are amazing — they spend what they can. We give it everything. Blood, sweat, and love. ❤️
But after 10 years and 60-hour weeks, we’re shattered. Literally.
People think “Busy = Rolling in it.”
Not quite. Here’s the truth:
🍺 Profit per pint in 2009: 84p
🍺 Profit per pint now: 12p
⚡️Energy bills (pre-COVID): £600/month
⚡️Energy bills now: £2,800/month
I'm not even gonna mention my rent going up 151%. Oh, I did!!
🚪Cost just to open the doors: up 35%
So we raise prices (sorry), cut back on staff (hello mop), and take on more ourselves.
And then there’s the real pub killer: VAT.
🛒 Supermarkets now sell 75% of UK booze
🏠 Most drinking now happens at home
🍺 Pubs pay 20% VAT
🧼 Supermarkets pay 2% VAT
We’re being taxed out of existence. Meanwhile, big energy firms rake in record profits, and Sunak’s wife casually avoided £15 million in tax.
Most pubs don’t close because of laziness. They close because of bills and VAT.
It’s not just us. It’s EVERY indie business.
No amount of “hard work” is fixing this.
👎 The system is broken
⚠️ 2 pubs close every week
💔 When the last pub shuts, a bit of Britain dies
Only the government can fix it. And it’s EASY:
👉 CUT THE VAT FOR PUBS
Want to help?
💥 Share this
📩 Send it to your MP
🍻 Keep supporting your local — if you still have one
SAVE THE PUBS.
Before its last orders forever.
