Beer drinkers and pub-goers across the country are being mobilised in their thousands to contact their MPs and push for government action on energy bills to stop pubs and breweries closing for good.

CAMRA says the number of long-term and permanent pub closures is set to grow unless the new government uses its announcement on energy to tackle the crisis facing the licensed trade. 

The plea from CAMRA members and supporters comes as the Campaign publishes new statistics showing that the number of long-term pub closures – where the business has failed, or the future of the pub is uncertain – has doubled in the first half of this year compared to the last six months of 2021.

In the last half of 2021, 254 pubs were recorded as “long-term closed,” a rate of 9.8 per week, but in the first half of 2022 this had increased to 485, or 18.7 per week.

CAMRA has also written to the new secretary of state for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Jacob Rees-Mogg, detailing examples of licensees across the UK struggling with bills or choosing to close their business altogether in the face of rocketing energy costs.

CAMRA national chairman Nik Antona said: “CAMRA’s figures show that in the first six months of this year the number of long-term pub closures has doubled. We fear this rate is set to go through the roof unless pubs get the urgent help that they need to deal with the energy bills crisis.

“With pubs and breweries facing increases in their energy bills of up to 500 per cent they need urgent support from the new prime minister. Otherwise, they face an impossible choice of passing on costs to customers resulting in a £15 or £20 pint – or closing their doors for good.

“That’s why CAMRA is asking all of its members and supporters to contact their MP and keep up the pressure on the new prime minister for urgent action to save the UK’s world-renowned pubs and breweries. Anyone can join in by going to www.camra.org.uk/budget2022

“It is encouraging to see reports of an announcement on energy this week. This must provide support quickly to the licensed trade and should also be followed by changes to duty charged on beer and cider served in pubs, clubs and taprooms, a cut in VAT for food and alcohol served in pubs, and changes to the unfair business rates system.”