The North East has the lowest number of pubs in England and Wales and there are fears that the number calling last orders could increase further in 2022.
1,983 pubs in the region may sound like a lot, but that is more than 1,000 fewer than the region with the next lowest number, Wales at 3060, while there are 5,739 and 5,361 in the South West and North West respectively.
This means 37 North East pubs closed their doors in 2021, according to reports from real estate adviser Altus Group.
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Martin Ellis, a member of Tyneside and Northumberland CAMRA, said: " My view is it’s a worry every time a pub closes because it is a loss of a place to go and enjoy yourself, it is a loss of an asset to the community where people can meet each other, and it is a loss to one of our local microbreweries."
The data shows that in recent years, a badly-hit sector has steadied. Across the UK, 914 pubs were either demolished or converted for other use in 2018, 473 in 2019, and 446 in 2020.
This year, another 444 suffered the same fate, and despite a 'steadying' of the sector, this brings the total of pubs lost in England and Wales over the last four years to more than 2,000.
Robert Hayton, UK president at Altus Group, said “Pubs continue to bear the brunt of coronavirus restrictions but have, thankfully, proved remarkably resilient.
“However, it remains to be seen what impact Omicron has on numbers next year as this could be the straw that broke the camel’s back for many.”
And Martin Ellis echoes that 2022 could prove tough. He said: "Things are looking very difficult because people aren't returning to pubs in the way that they used to.
"They've been very quite in the run up to Christmas which is a key trading period which carries them over the quiet months of January and February.
"I think a lot of pubs will have problems and a lot of them must be very worried."
Hospitality insolvencies have been reduced despite the impact of the pandemic as a result of support measures for pubs, restaurants and cafes, including furlough, business rates holidays and the rent moratorium.
However, the phasing out of financial support in recent months and the limited nature of the Chancellor’s latest package of measures in response to Omicron could mean more hardship is on the horizon.
Hospitality and leisure businesses were told on Tuesday December 21 that they will be able to receive up to £6,000 per premises after trade was heavily impacted by the latest spread of Covid-19.
Martin Ellis said: "£6,000 from the chancellor is a drop in the ocean and doesn't make much difference. There needs to be a reduction on tax and draft beer so businesses can compete with supermarkets to encourage people to drink in pubs."
Martin also highlighted that it's not just pubs that are struggling at the moment, it's breweries too.
"If the pubs are finding things difficult, so are the breweries. And they haven't had the same levels of support as the hospitality industry. Breweries aren't counted as hospitality, they're just like many other businesses."
There is one positive though - micropubs. Martin said: "Over the last year, a number of micropubs opened up and they appear to be doing well despite the difficult situation."
