Nearly 200 Welsh pubs have closed since 2020 — and the trade body says more will go without action
The Welsh Beer and Pub Association has called on Senedd members and policymakers to support Welsh pubs and brewers, as new figures show 196 pubs in Wales closed between the end of 2020 and the end of 2025.
Thirty pubs closed in Wales last year, up from 18 in 2024.
The association says the loss of nearly 200 pubs equates to approximately 2,940 jobs.
The WBPA launched its manifesto at a drop-in event at The Mount Stuart JD Wetherspoon pub in Cardiff, ahead of what it describes as a critical Senedd election year.
Emma McClarkin, CEO of the WBPA, said: “Our pubs and brewers are national treasures. Welsh brewing has a rich heritage dating back hundreds of years and our pubs keep all of us connected across our towns, villages, and cities.”
She said: “How wonderful it would be if our Welsh parliamentarians righted this wrong and chose to back this sector, which is fundamental for our culture, jobs, and economy. We hope they use this manifesto, which is a blueprint for the success of Welsh pubs and brewers, to act and champion this fantastic industry.”
The association is calling for a permanent reform of business rates, arguing that pubs in Wales are at a disadvantage compared with their English counterparts.
Even with 15% relief announced in 2026, the WBPA says a Welsh pub with the same rateable value as an English pub will pay significantly more.
Across the UK, pubs account for 0.4% of total turnover but pay 2.1% of the business rates bill, according to the association.
The manifesto also calls on the Welsh Government to deliver a Deposit Return Scheme aligned with schemes elsewhere in Great Britain, involve the pub and brewing sector in the distribution of tourism levy funds, and support the growth of low and no-alcohol products.
[Phot: WBPA]
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