7 Leeds city centre pubs that have shut forever amid fresh warnings of more closures

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) is calling on on the Chancellor to freeze duty rates, implement a significant increase in the discount for draft beer sold in pubs, and introduce the previously announced reduced rate for lower-strength beers from August 1.

With the Energy Bill Relief Scheme due to be significantly reduced from April 1, the BBPA is also highlighting the poor practice of energy suppliers and the ongoing impact soaring energy costs is having on the industry, insisting that the Government holds suppliers accountable and fix a “broken system” that it says is penalising hospitality businesses.

It comes as data from Oxford Economics estimates on-trade beer sales will decline by nine per cent in 2023/4. This equates to one million fewer barrels of beer sold and 25,000 potential job losses in pubs and the wider industry.

The BBPA hopes pub customers will add their support by signing its Long Live the Local petition that asks the Government for an overall reduction in Beer Duty as part of wider duty reform and to lower business rates and VAT for pubs.

Its chief executive, Emma McClarkin, said: “After almost three years of extremely tough trading conditions due to lockdowns, an energy crisis, supply chain disruptions and more, now is a make-or-break moment to save our locals and breweries from failure now in the years to come, we need the Government to act now or risk losing something very special forever.”

The plea for action comes after the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and national lockdowns left many pubs struggling to recover and saw some closing their doors for good. Among those to shut in recent years are these seven city centre pubs, which are currently standing empty.