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25th November 2024

Home buyers put pubs at the top of their must haves when house hunting

  • More than half of Brits say a “good local pub” is a top priority when choosing a new home

  • Over a third of house hunters rank pubs above local schools, places of worship, and gyms

  • The British public has been deeply impacted by rising pub closures, with nearly three-quarters saying it’s negatively impacted their mental health

  • The BBPA is calling on Brits to sign up to the Long Live the Local campaign to support pubs as the cornerstone of local communities

New research shows over half of Brits (52%) believe that having a ‘good local pub’ is a top priority when looking for a new home.

According to data commissioned by the Long Live the Local campaign, buyers and renters are factoring a local pub into their decision-making when choosing a place to live.

When prioritising local amenities, nearly a quarter of respondents put the pub in first place (23%), the poll found.

Overall, over a third (39%) prioritised having a ‘good local pub’ nearby – beating local schools (30%), places of worship (15%) and even the gym (18%).

These community hubs not only serve existing residents but also drive interest in local areas. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of Brits view pubs as a staple of vibrant communities and 42% check out house prices in the area after visiting a good local.

When evaluating a new neighbourhood, prospective homeowners and renters reveal their top investigation tactics, with nearly half (43%) visiting the local pub to get a feel for the area’s atmosphere.

Lisa Barry, publican at the Rose and Crown in Plymouth, said: “We regularly have house hunters pop in for a pint to get a feel for the area. Local pubs are the perfect way to learn more about the neighbourhood as they’re often filled with residents who consider us as an extension of their own home.

“With people working outside the office, or living with flatmates, we are the nation’s living room, so it’s no surprise that pubs are a key criteria for people looking for a new home.”

Despite their importance, the industry continues to face mounting challenges with 500 pub closures in 2023, and another 500 expected in 2024.

With over half of Brits (53%) saying that local pubs help them feel less lonely and isolated, data shows that closures have negatively impacted the mental health of almost three-quarters of the public (74%).

Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, which runs the Long Live the Local campaign, said:

“A good local is understandably at the top of many people’s wish lists when house hunting. They also are a sign of real social value in their communities and good pubs offer so much more than a quality pint.

“It’s a place to meet new neighbours and friends, catch up on all the local news, and tuck into some delicious pub grub when you can’t face the washing up.

“So when you’ve finally got the keys to your new home there is even more reason to support your pub by joining the Long Live The Local campaign which calls on the Government to support our pubs, recognising the significant economic and social value they have.

“Pubs are vital to the lifeblood of our communities and the last thing any new mover wants to see is their local close their doors. We stand ready to help the Government deliver the full support that’s needed for businesses to thrive.”

Rebecca Peach, Director of the UK’s leading online estate agent I Am the Agent, said:

“When selling or renting a property, the feel of the local area is almost as important as the home itself. Placemaking is incredibly important, with house hunters eager to live within vibrant neighbourhoods that have a wealth of community assets – like a good local pub – on their doorstep.

“From our experience, these social hubs are an essential part of the community, so it’s important that they’re protected so local areas can continue to grow and thrive across the UK.”

Join the campaign by visiting https://www.longlivethelocal.pub to sign up to the newsletter or add your signature to the Long Live the Local petition.

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Notes to Editor

About the data

The fieldwork was conducted by Savanta between 2nd – 13th October 2024. An online survey was conducted among 2,107 adults (18+) in the UK with results weighted to be representative of the UK population by gender, age, region and socio-economic status.

About the BBPA

Established in 1904, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) is the UK’s leading trade association that represents almost half of the UK’s pubs and breweries, with its members brewing over 90% of British beer and owning over 20,000 pubs.

BBPA’s mission is to support its members – from family-run regional brewers to international pub companies – helping them to thrive and serve their communities across the country by providing jobs, community wellbeing, pride of place, investment and economic value.

The Association is responsible for a number of notable campaigns, including its ‘Challenge 25’ campaign which was rolled out across the country to prevent underage drinking.

About Long Live the Local

The BBPA’s Long Live the Local campaign seeks to raise awareness of the social and economic benefits of pubs and breweries across the UK and the challenges they are currently facing.

Long Live The Local is demanding that the government recognises the contribution that pubs make to this country and has three simple asks to reduce the soaring cost of doing business:

  • Swift delivery of permanent and meaningful business rate reforms

  • Reduce beer duty to the European average

  • Take steps to mitigate huge regulatory cost increases currently facing pubs and brewers

About I Am the Agent

I Am the Agent is the UK’s leading online estate agent with over 17 years of success. It currently has over 200,000 users with properties listed on the country’s largest property portals.

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