The number of pubs in England and Wales that have been demolished or converted into other types of use has risen dramatically with more than 380 “vanishing” in the first half of this year.

Between 1 January and 30 June, 383 pubs disappeared according to Altus Group’s pub tracker. This represents a sharp jump on last year, which saw 386 pubs lost during 12 months.

During the first six months of the year, Wales lost the greatest number with 52 vanishing, plus both the London and North-West regions losing 46 each.

CAMRA national chairman Nik Antona said: “These new figures are shocking if not surprising as our locals continue to face rising costs, sky-high energy bills, unfair business rates and customers tightening their belts.

"If we are to save more of our beloved pubs and social clubs from being lost as community hubs then we desperately need the chancellor to use the Autumn Statement in November to extend help for licensees with business rates which is due to end in April next year. Governments across the UK also need to reform and replace the deeply unfair business rates systems to give pubs a fighting chance of surviving and thriving.

"On the back of the Crooked House affair, we are also calling on the Westminster government to strengthen planning laws to make sure councils in England can protect pubs and require them to be converted back to their original use or rebuilt brick by brick if they are unlawfully converted or demolished.

"The government’s plans for High Street Rental Auctions to get town centre premises in England back into use also needs to exclude converting pubs to other uses.

"The Welsh government urgently needs to introduce protections for pubs in the planning system where there are currently none so that people can have a fighting chance of saving their pub from being demolished or converted into the likes of a shop, housing or a take-away."

Pubs currently get a 75 per cent discount off their business rates bills for the 2023/2024 tax year up to a cap of £110,000 per business, but this is set to end on 31 March 2024.

Business rates are also set to rise next April in line with September’s headline rate of inflation which could also add more than six per cent to bills next year.

Altus Group’s property tax president Alex Probyn said: "With energy costs up 80 per cent year-on-year in a low-growth, high-inflation and high interest rates environment, the last thing pubs need is an average business rates hike of £12,385 next year."

Beer and Pub Association chief executive Emma McClarkin said: "These figures don’t just tell the story of the hard times pubs have faced the past few years but indicate what’s to come if the government fails to extend the business rates relief and implement wider business reform.

"Since 2020 our pubs have faced a myriad of challenges, from forced closures to an ongoing energy crisis and for many the looming increase in business rates early next year will be the last straw.

"Our pubs play a vital role in local socio-economic success all over the UK, but they aren’t able to do their very best work because they are under threat from unfair taxation through business rates and VAT, looming duty rises and extreme energy bills that are forcing publicans to make incredibly tough choices.

"Under the right conditions, our pubs have proven they are resilient, standing strong for centuries, but we really need the government to lay foundations to ensure pubs can serve their communities now and in the future."