The lockdowns and restrictions have meant pubs have closed for long periods of time and then had to operate with strict measures in place when reopening.

During an Instagram Live last night (Tuesday 8 December), The Morning Advertiser ​editor Ed Bedington, British Beer & Pub Association chief executive Emma McClarkin and celebrity chef and pub operator Tom Kerridge highlighted the plight of pubs amid the coronavirus crisis.

Kerridge asked how many pubs had been lost due to the pandemic so far, to which McClarkin estimated it was about 5%.

She said: “It would be really tough to put an accurate number on that right now but we estimate 5% of pubs have probably already closed for good.

“Of course, we are hoping we can change that by making the Government give us what we need to see us through the pandemic or looking at creating a less restrictive environment for us to trade in.”

Cashflow issue

Kerridge said 5% of pubs, in an actual figure quantified this to be about 2,500 pubs, which McClarkin agreed with.

McClarkin added: “As you know Tom, cashflow is a major issue during the crisis and still is, it’s an ongoing issue and some people would have already run out of money by now and so they wouldn’t have been in a secure financial position to see themselves through the first lockdown, let alone the second so yeah, unfortunately we have already lost some pubs.”

This follows exclusive data from real estate adviser Altus Group, which found more than 300 pubs had been permanently closed​, set to be demolished or converted for other uses for the 34 weeks and six days to 1 September 2020.