Punch Pubs and Sara Cox Team Up to Show the True Economic & Social Value of Pubs

Punch Pubs & Co, one of the largest pub companies in the UK, in partnership with Northumbria University, Newcastle, and supported by celebrity ambassador Sara Cox, today launches new research revealing the average pub¹ contributes up to £1.3m² in economic and social value to its local community.

The report, The Public's House: The True Economic & Social Value of Pubs, showcases the real value of pubs. Looking beyond just their economic output, to the unique contribution that pubs make to society. The research highlights how pubs provide vital social infrastructure, enhance wellbeing, tackle loneliness, strengthen local identities, foster everyday connections, and generate millions in charitable contributions.

The insight reveals that the Punch Pubs estate delivers £1.7bn³ in total economic and social value to the UK economy each year. The analysis also reveals annual trends demonstrating that:

• A Punch pub, on average, is estimated to spend as much as £56,000 on local suppliers

• This means that, as a whole, the business injects up to £70m into the wider economy⁴

• Across its 1,250-strong estate, the business generates £4m in charitable contributions⁵

• Punch Pubs puts £350,000 in wages per pub, back into the economy

• Each Punch pub spends up to £266,945 on goods and services

The entire pub sector⁶ contributes at least £142m in Social Value per annum based on each Punch pub generating an estimated £3,200 every year in charitable contributions via sponsorship, advertising support to local community groups and providing use of venue space.

However, the figure is a conservative one, as many of the community contributions made by pubs are, quite simply, priceless. From providing safe spaces for the vulnerable, company for the lonely (one in four UK adults, 25%, report they feel lonely “often or always”)⁷, to giving advice and support to those in need, and providing a welcoming and safe space for all, such benefits in kind cannot be monetised.

The report provides deep insight into why pubs are so important to UK culture and communities. The more embedded a pub is in its local community, the more social value it can deliver – and the evidence suggests that this has a positive effect on turnover, too. Pubs with higher engagement tend to have higher revenues and so an average pub⁸ could raise its annual revenue by as much as £150,000 a year⁹ by driving social value and community engagement.

As part of the report, the Community Engagement Index (CEI) was created. This framework brings together information on a wide range of community activities, such as hosting community events, supporting charities, and working with local organisations. The CEI data shows how pubs are far more than commercial venues – they are vital community hubs that provide inclusive spaces for social interaction, support for local organisations and charities, create employment and pathways into skills and careers, and contribute to a shared sense of identity and belonging.

Andy Spencer, CEO of Punch Pubs & Co, said: "Hospitality is an incredible industry to be a part of, and what continues to inspire me is the extraordinary creativity and adaptability I see demonstrated every day. It’s no secret that, in common with many other industries, the operating environment is currently challenging, but Publicans are responding with innovation and a real commitment to their communities. Our report highlights an important factor in the sector’s ongoing success and resilience: pubs with strong community engagement tend to be more commercially successful, whilst also building lasting guest loyalty that supports repeat visits, recommendation and long-term growth. We also know the hospitality industry doesn’t just create value through its own activity; it also has a ripple effect on the wider economy. The value of the pub to society is undeniable, protecting and supporting the sector isn’t just about safeguarding businesses, it’s about strengthening our communities."

Sara Cox, Radio 2 DJ, presenter and author, added: "I’m hugely passionate about pubs, my Mum ran The Pineapple Pub in Bolton while I was growing up, so pub culture has been a big part of my life. Pubs, for me, are a place where brilliant memories are made and friendships for life are formed. This research is a powerful reminder of just how much pubs matter, yet more than one pub a day closes, and we lost 366 of them last year alone. That a pub provides local jobs and supports local farmers, butchers and bakers is evident, but this research also illustrates what the pub means for ordinary folk up and down the country. The group of bereaved and lonely men who use the pub to gather and chat, the dementia sufferers and their families that gather in a pub to find support and respite, the school parents able to use a pub carpark when dropping off and picking up their children, all know the true value of a pub. Nowadays, you can eat, drink, sing, play board games, knit, natter, or attend a book club in a pub – but it doesn’t matter what you do, the most important thing is that we use them. If we don’t, it’ll be far more than somewhere to go and have a pint that we’ll miss out on, our social links and community support will be lost as well."

You can access the full report at: www.punchpubs.com/socialvalue.

Notes for Editors

All the numbers used in the release are calculated using the higher multipliers set out in the report.

At the time the research was undertaken, the number of pubs in the Punch Pubs & Co estate stood at 1,250 which is the figure that is used in the report. Since then, the business has undertaken a number of acquisitions, and the estate now runs to more than 1,300 pubs.

Punch Pubs – The Real-Life Stories

Craig Pennington – Lord Roberts, Nottingham

I’d describe both our team and our customers as a group of likeminded people who don’t care how you identify, whether you’re young, older, a student, gay, trans, or anything else. We don’t brand ourselves as a gay bar, we’re a safe space, a traditional pub where everyone is welcomed like family.

The pub has become one of the city’s most welcoming and attractive spaces for people to come together. We’ve hosted two same-sex wedding receptions at the pub, and those moments really stand out. It makes me proud that people choose the Lord Roberts to celebrate such important milestones.

Two years ago, a group of boys approached us about starting an LGBTQ+ running group and asked if they could use the pub for their post run social. The first run had 30 people; now 80-100 join each time, which is incredible. We offer a bag drop and 10% off drinks, supporting local activities like this is really important to us.

We also sponsor the Nottingham Lions FC and the Nottinghamshire Hurricanes RFC, both inclusive teams that provide safe spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals, which aligns perfectly with our culture. On the first Thursday of every month, we host the Gay City Bowlers, and we regularly welcome an LGBTQ+ badminton team. Every Wednesday we run a pub quiz, we also host a monthly book club and a monthly drag performance downstairs, the drag nights are always a sellout.

Across the country, the LGBTQ+ pub scene has shrunk, and that makes spaces like the Lord Roberts even more important. We’re proud to offer a safe, welcoming place where people can meet, connect, and feel part of a community.

Lydia Washington – The Rocket, Rainhill

I’ve worked in pubs since I was 16, starting out glass collecting before moving onto the bar, up to bar management, and eventually taking on pubs of my own. People often assume Publicans are of an older generation, but with the industry opening doors for me far earlier than I ever expected and being able to show care and willingness, the opportunity came at me thick and fast, and I’ve loved every minute of it.

What I love most about hospitality is the energy young people bring. They’re shaping the future of pubs by bringing new ideas, a fresher culture, and a different kind of connection with guests. When it comes to employability, hospitality teaches the skills that matter most, such as communication, confidence, and genuinely caring about the people you serve. These are abilities you develop on the job, shift by shift, and they’re what help young people grow, thrive, and truly make their mark in this industry.

I’ve always been passionate about hiring younger staff and helping them progress. With the right training, they’re incredible, and they’re the talent that will secure the future pipeline of our industry. If pubs are going to succeed and get back to where they were over the next decade, we really need them.

Beth Robinson – Beeswing Inn, East Cowton, Yorkshire

Running this pub has never just been a job for me, it’s about putting it right at the heart of the community. If something’s happening locally, we want to be part of it. That might mean hosting gatherings for the church, working closely with the school, or setting up a simple cake and coffee morning so mums and their little ones have somewhere friendly to come and have a break.

With so many community spaces disappearing, pubs like ours have to step in. We open our doors because it isn’t always about making money. It’s about giving people a warm, welcoming place where they feel seen, and creating for people to meet one another.

Consistency really matters. We open the same hours every day because people rely on that routine. Over time, you get to know what each regular needs, whether it’s a quiet corner with their paper or someone to chat to at the bar. And if someone whose normally in doesn’t appear, we check in. It’s as simple as caring.

Supporting local people is a huge part of what we do. Most of our staff live right here in the village, and we try to buy locally too, from the butcher down the road to the basket of eggs on the bar that people donate to and help themselves from. We run art classes, baking sessions, all with local suppliers.

To me, a pub is a home from home. It’s a place where you’ll always find someone to talk to, someone who cares. We want everyone who walks through the door to feel welcome, no matter who they are or where they’re from. That’s what a true community pub should be.

Janet Clark – Top House, Liverpool

Everything we do involves the community, that’s mainly why we operate. We have many regular and returning customers walking through our doors, it feels like a safe place for them – they invite their friends and family, and suddenly, you’ve got a full pub.

It’s just nice to look across the bar and see everyone having a laugh and enjoying themselves, we see it all the time. We pride ourselves on creating a welcoming and warming atmosphere, and new customers always return.

We like to talk to our customers and get to know them on a personal level. It’s so important, everyone is going through something and people come in needing a listening ear.

We host many community and charity-led events, from breakfast with Santa at Christmas, to our legendary Halloween party where everyone comes from all over Liverpool. In fact, every Wednesday we host a bingo event, when we started, we had about four or five people come along, but we kept it going and now have 30+ people attending. We offer free tea and coffee, sandwiches, sausage rolls and biscuits to keep everyone fed and watered. It’s about us giving back, and by doing that they return to us throughout the week.

We also host two darts teams each week and sponsor our local football club. We’ve done charity abseils to raise funds for cancer treatment in the past, as well as raffles behind the bar with money going to local charities.

You don’t realise how much the pub can mean to our customers, if we were ever forced to close it would be absolutely devastating. When we took over this site six years ago it was a shell and we really built it up. It’s the hub of the community. People say to us all the time, ‘you’ve made this pub what it is now’. It would kill us if we had to close, it’s not just a home, it’s a livelihood, and we class the customers as our friends.

Footnotes

1. Based on Punch Pubs & Co estate

2. £1.69 billion divided by 1,250 (number of pubs in the Punch estate)

3. All numbers calculated using the higher multiplier (see report for explanation)

4. Based on the number of Punch pubs (1,250)

5. Based on average charitable contributions per pub multiplied by the number of Punch Pubs & Co pubs. This comprises of space, goods and marketing for events

6. Based on British Beer & Pub Association data showing there are a total of 44,500 UK pubs at the end of 2025

7. ONS: Public Opinions and Social Trends, January 2025

8. Based on Punch Pubs & Co estate

9. The report finds that socially valuable Punch Pubs typically have a turnover almost 30% higher (27%) than their less-community minded counterparts

For more information:

Danielle Cross, Account Manager, Fleet Street Agency

Email: danielle@fleetstreetagency.com | Tel: 0203 985 6810

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