Here's number of pubs in Lancaster before & after Covid pandemic

Lancaster has the same number of pubs as before the pandemic – despite boozers continuing to disappear from town and cities across the country.
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The coronavirus pandemic placed extraordinary pressure on pubs and the hospitality sector as national lockdowns forced closures, while demand took a hit as punters chose to stay at home to avoid catching the virus.

New data from real estate advisers Altus Group shows there were 132 pubs in Lancaster as of June – the same as in March 2020 before the first coronavirus lockdown.

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Across the North West there have been 111 closures since the start of the pandemic, including 17 this year.

The coronavirus pandemic placed extraordinary pressure on pubs and the hospitality sector.The coronavirus pandemic placed extraordinary pressure on pubs and the hospitality sector.
The coronavirus pandemic placed extraordinary pressure on pubs and the hospitality sector.

Altus Group said pubs could have fared worse during the pandemic and instead proved “remarkably resilient".

However, its UK president Robert Hayton warned they are now dealing with "soaring energy costs, inflationary pressures and tax rises” which may force more pubs to close their doors.

Pub numbers across England and Wales have dropped below 40,000 for the first time, with 200 lost between the end of 2021 and the end of June.

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This decline started long before the pandemic – nationally 7,000 pubs have been shuttered over the last decade.

Altus Group said these pubs will likely have been demolished or turned into residential and office space.

The figures cover pubs that pay business rates including those vacant and offered to let.

Research by the British Beer and Pub Association, British Institute of Innkeeping and UKHospitality shows only 37% of hospitality businesses are presently turning a profit.

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The rising costs of energy, goods and labour have been blamed for falling profits and the industry is now calling on the Government to provide more support.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “It’s essential that we receive relief to ease these pressures or we really do risk losing more pubs year on year.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy said: “We understand the challenges that the pubs sector is facing.

"This is why we are supporting pubs across the UK with 50 per cent business rates relief, freezing alcohol duty rates on beer, cider, wine and spirits and increasing the employment allowance.

"This is in addition to the billions in grants and loans offered throughout the pandemic.”