In 2024 alone, England and Wales lost more than one pub per day, continuing a trend that has seen the number of pubs across the country decline sharply since the pandemic, from 40,617 in 2020 to 38,989 in 2024.
● Research indicates that, at the current trend, Britain could have fewer than 1,000 pubs remaining by 2074.
● Participation in Dry January increased by over 30% in 2024 compared to 2023.
● To encourage visits during Dry January, over 70 independent pubs have teamed up to offer a unique Christmas gift: £100 worth of food and drink, redeemable right after the holiday season.
● The scheme, which will soon include 80 pubs, has already distributed over £500,000 worth of food and drink to Londoners.
2nd of January 2025 — After the hectic Christmas season, during which pubs managed Christmas parties and dealt with the Guinness shortage, they now face the most dreaded period for the hospitality industry: Dry January. To combat the significant drop in footfall, a community of independent pubs in London has taken action, inviting Londoners to set a goal of visiting an independent pub at least once a week. To support this initiative, the community is offering free food and drink through the CityStack London Pub Collection voucher scheme.
There is no need to remind anyone of the ongoing turmoil the hospitality industry has been facing for years. This has been brought sharply into focus by the latest government figures, which show that more than one pub per day in England and Wales closed permanently in 2024, with a total of 412 establishments shutting down. The total number of pubs fell from 39,401 in December 2023 to 38,989 in December 2024, continuing an alarming trend that has been happening for decades. In London alone, nearly a thousand pubs have disappeared over the last twenty years, representing a staggering decrease of over 20%.
This is the result of a culmination of significant challenges that continue to weigh heavily on pubs.
CityStack has compiled a list of the top concerns facing independent pub owners in our scheme (members are available for interviews upon request).
The top concerns are:
● Soaring beer prices
● Rising property rents
● Business rates increase
● Pay television sports channels subscription fee hikes
● Mortgage interest rate rises
● Soaring energy bills
● Guinness shortage
● Council regulations
As every year, publicans nervously enter the first quarter, as it is often the most challenging time for many independent pubs.
During this period, these establishments contend with a sharp drop in footfall due to Dry January, poor weather, and customers reassessing their leisure budgets – all while managing the same overheads. Sadly, many struggle to stay afloat amidst these numerous obstacles.
This is why a community of over 70 independent pubs has joined the CityStack initiative, offering free food and drink to Londoners who received their London Pub Collection as a Christmas gift. This community aims to make Londoners aware of the challenges these small businesses face during Dry January and urges them to set a goal of visiting at least one independent pub each week during this period.
Alison Boutoille, founder of CityStack commented: “The significant drop in footfall between the last quarter of the year and the first is always difficult for small businesses like independent pubs, as they still have operating costs to cover. Many don’t make it through this quiet period. This is why we urge every Londoner to visit at least one independent pub per week, even if they are participating in Dry January. There are plenty of offers for teetotallers – snacks, roast, soft drinks and alcohol-free beer. If every Londoner made the effort to visit an independent pub once a week, it would greatly help these businesses survive this challenging time.”
About CityStack
Shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic, French national Alison Boutoille, who fell in love with pub culture after moving to London, decided to bring together a community of independent pubs and create a unique discount scheme to combat inflation, helping Londoners continue to enjoy nights out despite the rising costs in the capital.
The concept of the initiative is simple: Londoners purchase a £25 stack of beer mats (called the ‘London Pub Collection’), which gives them £100 worth of food and drink at fantastic independent pubs across the city.
Each pack comes with a special beer mat, which can be shown at any ten of the 70+ pubs participating in the project. Customers have it stamped and receive £10 off a £20+ spend.
CityStack provides a fun experience too, including a map and a stack of collectible informative beer mats to learn more about a curated selection of independent pubs.
The goal is to encourage pub lovers to visit independent pubs right after receiving this unique Christmas gift, generating footfall and revenue during this very quiet period.
The objectives are straightforward:
• Help people identify independently run pubs
• Encourage Londoners to discover independent pubs, and drive footfall to these establishments, which are struggling with inflation and declining visitor numbers
• Allow Londoners to socialise within their budget
• Raise awareness of the challenges pubs are currently facing
Over 70 independent pubs are already part of the scheme, with more pubs requesting to join each week.
Skehan’s – 1 Kitto Rd, London SE14 5TW
“We joined the initiative in 2021 because we love that CityStack is leading the way in supporting independent businesses like ours. The scheme is an excellent system that helps people discover our place. I’ve been recommending it to other landlords, as I believe all independent pubs could benefit from increased footfall.” – Bryan Fitzsimons, landlord of Skehan’s
- Pictures of the pub: Skehan’s facade & CityStack beer mat, Bar, Pool table
- Pictures of Bryan: Bryan & Alison in front of the pub, Picture of Bryan
The Dog and Bell – 116 Prince St, London SE8 3JD
“As soon as we heard about this initiative, we decided to join because it’s a fantastic way to let people know that we are independent and to attract pub-goers from all over London to discover us.” – Eli Tancheva, landlady of the Dog and Bell
- Pictures of the pub: The Dog & Bell for Christmas, Staff with CityStack pack, Pack with Guinness
The Gladstone Arms – 64 Lant St, London SE1 1QN
“With all the challenges independent pubs like ours are facing – rising costs and Londoners having less budget for going out – this kind of initiative is incredibly helpful in bringing people to discover places like ours, which they might not have otherwise!” – Siblings Megha and Gaurav Khanna, landlords of the Gladstone Arms
- Pictures of the pub: CityStack beer mat and the pub
- Pictures of landlords: Picture of Megha and Alison with a special beer mat, Picture of Megha and Gaurav with CityStack
The Kenton – 38 Kenton Rd, London E9 5BA
“This scheme is a fantastic system to be identified by pub-goers as ‘independent’. Thanks to CityStack, we’ve welcomed pub lovers who wouldn’t have been to our place otherwise.” – Egil Johansen, landlord of the Kenton
- Pictures of the pub: Picture bar, CityStack behind the bar
- Picture of Egil
Alison Boutoille, founder of CityStack commented: “Observing the daily disappearance of these de-facto community centres, which are so core to British culture, is heartbreaking. The challenges pubs have faced for many years have worsened significantly since the pandemic. Changes in drinking habits, staff shortages due to Brexit, massive increases in operating costs, and upward-only AGA leases form endless, belligerent obstacles that increase the daily struggle, making the situation untenable for independent businesses.
We had to do something to help these small businesses thrive and allow publicans to keep fighting to preserve these places that allow everyone to connect in an increasingly lonely world.
“While big chains may be better equipped to weather the current economic situation, it’s much harder for independent businesses to stay afloat, which is why we created this initiative. We encourage people to return to independent pubs before it’s too late, and a Christmas gift is a great way to do so.”
As part of the initiative, Alison has started an “Indie Pub Tour” as well as the successful “Support an Independent Pub Day” alongside Alistair Von Lion, pub champion the London Pub Explorer. She passionately continues to support independent pubs, which she believes are essential to the core of British culture, and has been featured on Daily Mail Online, Los Angeles Times, France24, The Metro, iNews, The Morning Advertiser, MyLondon, This is Local London, Southwark News, and Beer Today.
For more information, visit: citystack.co
CityStack and several independent pub owners are available at short notice for interviews and to provide commentary about the current situation for independent pubs.
Photos of Alison Boutoille, Megha and Gaurav Khanna. Media kit available on request.
– ENDS –
Image: Megha and Gaurav Khanna, landlords of the Gladstone Arms (Borough)
Media contacts for interviews or inquiries
Alison Boutoille
Founder of CityStack
07 385 84 98 24
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