Pub insolvencies saw a marked increase during Q2 and Q3 of 2025, reversing a tentative recovery seen earlier this year. According to accountancy firm Price Bailey, 219 pubs entered insolvency in Q2, followed by 189 in Q3. Q1 saw 161 establishments not able to pay their debts.
84 pubs become insolvent in June, the highest monthly total in over a decade. The rise in insolvencies follows April’s increase in employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and the National Living Wage.
Further analysis showed that 4,742 of UK pubs are both technically insolvent (negative net assets) and rated ‘maximum risk’ on the Delphi credit score – this figure represents approximately 1-in-8 British pubs.
Price Bailey research…