More than 380 pubs closed in England and Wales in 2022 as energy bills soar

Rocketing energy bills and staffing pressures forced hundreds of businesses to shut for the final time.

Pubs have been calling time across the country - permanently (PA Archive)

More than 32 pubs disappeared from communities in England and Wales each month in 2022 as rocketing energy bills and staffing pressures forced businesses to shut for the final time.

New analysis of official government data by real estate adviser Altus group found the overall number of pubs slid by 386 during the year.

The total number of pubs in England and Wales, including those vacant and being offered to let, fell to 39,787 in December compared with 40,173 at the same point last year.