Shocking new statistics from CAMRA reveal 554 pubs have closed or stood empty without tenants in the last six months of 2022.

CAMRA is now calling on the prime minister and chancellor to put together a support package to save more pubs from closing after the new figures showed 21 pubs a week are closing for business or losing their licensees.

Pub-goers are being asked to contact their MP to ask them to support action to save pubs in the government’s Spring Budget. 

CAMRA national chairman Nik Antona (pictured) said: “These figures should be an urgent wake-up call for the government. Without a support package in the Spring Budget, we risk losing more pubs which are at the heart of community life and play such a crucial role in bringing people together and tackling loneliness and social isolation.

“With the cost of doing business rocketing, energy costs sky-high and customers tightening their belts it is little wonder that hundreds of pubs across the country are closing for business or are standing empty. We know that the licensed trade can thrive and drive growth in the economy, but only if the government acts quickly. 

“That’s why CAMRA is calling on all pub-goers to join our campaign for urgent help to save our pubs which includes giving more help with energy bills from April, making the business rates system fairer for pubs and cutting tax on draught beer and cider by 20 per cent to give our locals a fighting chance to compete with the likes of supermarket alcohol.”

CAMRA’s one-minute lobbying tool matches people with their MP and gives them a template email, making it easy to join the campaign to save their locals. The tool is at: https://camra.e-activist.com/page/121106/action/1