Britain's number of pubs, bars, restaurants and other licensed premises has dropped by nearly 1,000 in the last 12 months, NIQ's latest Hospitality Market Monitor reveals.

Data from NIQ, powered by CGA intelligence, shows the figure fell by 1.0% between September 2025 and September 2026, to 98,319. This represents 977 net closures, or an average of nearly 19 per week. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, numbers have dropped by 0.2%, or 245 sites, since June.

The steady stream of closures comes amid intense pressure on hospitality from a combination of rising costs and soft consumer confidence. It echoes other data from NIQ including the NIQ RSM Business Tracker, which has recorded sub-inflation growth for managed groups for 16 consecutive months. NIQ's latest Business Confidence Survey with Zonal found that only 37% of leaders now feel optimistic about prospects for their business over the next 12 months. It leaves the sector hoping for support on costs and an injection of spending in the crucial Christmas and New Year trading period.

Karl Chessell, Director - Hospitality Operators and Food, EMEA at CGA by NIQ, said:

"Net closures of nearly 1,000 licensed premises in the last 12 months highlight the pile-up of challenges facing hospitality. While there are encouraging pockets of growth, the general direction of travel is obvious, and the sector is now entering a critical couple of months. Meaningful support on this burden of costs is needed to protect thousands of vulnerable businesses from closure. With the right backing, alongside a stimulus to consumer spending, hospitality can give the UK economy the injection of growth and job creation that it needs."

About NIQ

NielsenIQ (NYSE: NIQ) is a leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete and trusted understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. By combining an unmatched global data footprint and granular consumer and retail measurement with decades of AI modeling expertise, NIQ builds decision systems that help companies turn complex data into confident action.

With operations in more than 90 countries, NIQ covers approximately 82% of the world's population and more than $7.4 trillion in global consumer spend. Through cloud-based platforms, advanced analytics and AI-driven insights, NIQ delivers The Full View™-helping brands and retailers understand what consumers buy, why they buy it, and what to do next.

For more information, please visit www.niq.com.

Forward Looking Statement

This press release regarding Britain's licensed premises may contain forward-looking statements regarding anticipated consumer behaviors, market trends, and industry developments. These statements reflect current expectations and projections based on available data, historical patterns, and various assumptions. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "likely," "may," "poised to,"," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future outcomes and are subject to inherent uncertainties, including changes in consumer preferences, economic conditions, technological advancements, and competitive dynamics. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. While we strive to base our insights on reliable data and sound methodologies, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances, except to the extent required by applicable law.