UK pub numbers rise for the first time in a decade

A new report from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) - Economies of ale: changes in the UK pubs and bars sector, 2001 to 2019 – indicates that the number of pubs and bars ‘has bounced back after more than 15 years of decline’.

The number of small pubs and bars in the UK has increased for the first time in more than 15 years.

The latest ONS data show that the number of small pubs and bars (that is, those with fewer than 10 employees) increased by 85 (a 0.4% increase) in 2019. This follows more than 15 years of closures. The overall number of pubs and bars in the UK increased by 315 (a 0.8% increase) between 2018 and 2019, the first increase for a decade.

Data from ONS also shows that pub and bar enterprises now employ more people serving food than people working behind the bar. In 2003, bar staff made up roughly 4 in 10 employees and those serving food (that is, chefs, cooks, waiting staff, and kitchen and catering staff) made up roughly 3 in 10 employees. Since 2016, the opposite has been true, with those serving food outnumbering those working behind the bar.

The full report and statistics can be found here: LINK