How many pubs, gastropubs and restaurants are there in the UK?
Have you found yourself wondering how many pubs, bars, and restaurants there are in the UK? You’re not alone. Whether you were chatting with a few mates over your favourite tipple or brushing up on general knowledge ahead of your next pub quiz, here’s everything you need to know…
How many pubs are there in the UK?
According to a report by Statista, there were approximately 46,800 pubs in the UK back in 2020. You might think that’s a lot of pubs – and it is! – but it’s actually a decrease of 8,600 pubs compared to 2010. Even so, just like when you’re searching for your next dining out experience in the Eat Drink Meet collection, when it comes to the number of pubs in the UK, you’re never going to have to travel far to find one.
In fact, take a look at the map below. It represents every pub in the UK with a red pin. The areas where the red pins darken are where the most pubs are located, often congregating in big cities. Is anyone else suddenly really thirsty?
To put this into perspective, we discovered that this equates to 58 pubs per 100,000 people in the UK. Naturally, this varies by region. For example, the UK’s South-West had 75 pubs per 100,000 people, while London has 40 pubs per 100,000 people. No matter how you look at it, that’s a lot of after-work drinks being poured.
How many bars are there in the UK?
Now, this is a tricky one, because when it comes to statistics, “bar” is a term that is often wrapped up in other drinking establishments. For example, some reports linked pubs and bars together, while others associate bars with nightclubs. Can you see how the waters get a little murky?
So, while it’s difficult to give you an exact number of bars in the UK, we can give you some interesting bar-related facts…
By 2018, 42,000 venues were serving cocktails, a significant increase of 75% compared to just four years before, creating £587 million in revenue. We’d imagine this has only increased with the continuing premiumisation of locals, offering an ever-growing range of fruity, refreshing, and sophisticated cocktails.
One more for you – the most popular cocktail in the UK in 2022 was the Pornstar Martini. How does it rank for you? If you need a reminder, find your nearest pub or bar in the Eat Drink Meet collection and head to the bar.
How many restaurants are there in the UK?
As of 2023, it is estimated that there are approximately 32,659 restaurants in the UK. That means 32,659 choices when it comes to wining and dining yourself, and an extensive range of restaurant menus, drinks, atmospheres, experiences, and locations.
Are you in the mood for a great value and cheerful restaurant for a family event? Or are you looking for a perfect date night restaurant near you? No matter your reason for treating yourself, there’s going to be something ideal waiting for you…
Which UK city has the most pubs?
As you might have guessed, London is the city with the most pubs in the UK, with an estimated 2,225 pubs in the Greater London area, and 2,089 pubs in Central London. That makes a total of 4,314 pubs in London. Wow. It’s no wonder that London is our mighty capital, with so many excuses to live life to the fullest with luxurious pub brunches, lunches, dinners, after-work drinks, and more.
Also deserving of a shout-out is Manchester with 2,109 pubs, making it the UK city with the most pubs outside of the capital. Maybe a long weekend in Manchester is in order?
Which UK county has the most pubs?
Although Greater London and Greater Manchester are counties, they’ve already been awarded with recognition for being cities with the most pubs, so we’re going to keep it interesting and show off a few more! Here are the top 10 counties with the most pubs:
So, next time you’re travelling through the UK and you’re wondering, “is there a pub near me?” Well, there definitely is.
Where in the UK has the fewest pubs?
Herm – a Channel Island that’s three miles off the coast of Guernsey (and is categorised as being within the UK) – has only two pubs. We’ll say that again… Two pubs. Can you imagine?
Walking around the entire island only takes about 2 hours, which sounds like the perfect weekend walk before detouring into one of these two pubs for a Sunday roast.
Why do we love pubs, bars, and restaurants so much?
Honestly, what’s not to love? Pubs, bars, and restaurants give unique and stylish settings to relax, treat ourselves, and – most importantly – make memories with the people that mean the most to us. In fact, in many places they can become the heart of a community, giving regulars a place to gather, catch up, and even discuss local issues.
Here’s just a few scenarios off the top of our head that could have you spending quality time at your favourite pub, bar, or restaurant soon:
• Unwinding from a long week with workmates and after-work drinks
• Catching up with friends over pints and cocktails in a sunny beer garden
• Bringing the family together for a weekly Sunday roast (without the washing up!)
• Making the most of a big event with private dining space, or even full venue hire – fancy!
• Starting your weekend in style with a luxurious brunch or afternoon tea
• Adding a touch of wining and dining to your week with a spontaneous dining out experience
•A long walk that detours into one of our dog-friendly pubs for a refreshing tipple (and a fresh bowl of water for furry family members, of course)
Even with this short list of reasons to visit your nearby establishments, we’re sure there was something that hit home or had you ready to search for your nearest local… That’s the power of the UK’s hospitality industry, turning delicious dishes and drinks into something that means so much more.
If we love them so much, why are pubs declining in the UK?
There are a number of reasons why pubs have been declining in the UK. For starters, the indoor smoking ban of 2007 saw a large group of people looking for a new place to drink and chat while smoking freely. In some cases, this meant that people were drinking more often at home where they could smoke – at least in the winter months, when the thought of sitting out in a chilly beer garden wasn’t high on the list of things they wanted to do. In the warmer seasons, the beer gardens and outside spaces still allowed smoking, making the pubs just as popular as ever.
In addition to this, the COVID-19 pandemic only made it harder for pubs to keep their doors open. From March to August 2020, pubs had to close completely, making it an especially hard time for both them and the local patrons for whom their local was part of their weekly routine.
So, what does this mean for pub-goers in the UK? Well, it just means that the remaining pubs are providing an even more impressive offering, finding their passions and niches and putting them at the forefront of their businesses.
For example, in an effort to motivate the public through their doors, many pubs focused on craft beers, a wider assortment of drinks, high-quality pub menus, and renovated beer gardens and outside spaces, making the pub experience feel more premium and worth making space for in your life – and budget – once more.
Are there any good pubs, bars, or restaurants near you?
We can tell you for a fact that there are almost too many pubs, bars, and restaurants near you, which may even make it hard to choose…
Do you want a city pub that’ll help you unwind with craft beers and artisan spirits? Or does your weekend stroll just need to end in a countryside pub with the most delicious of Sunday roasts? Or perhaps your next catch-up wouldn’t be complete without a couple of eye-catching cocktails in a chic bar? So much to do, so little time…
That’s where we come in. Explore the full Eat Drink Meet collection for pubs, bars, and restaurants that capture the exact atmosphere, occasion, or location you’re looking for.