Bradford has almost a dozen fewer pubs since before pandemic

Data from real estate advisers Altus Group shows there were 318 pubs in the city as of last month – down from 329 in March 2020, before the first coronavirus lockdown.

Campaign for Real Ale’s Bradford Branch officer Peter Down feels the city centre has been hit the most.

Brick Box in Ivegate shut its doors for good in the first lockdown and The Old Bank, in Market Street, closed last May citing huge falls in customers due to office workers not returning to the city centre.

Ivegate's Brick Box closed during the peak of the pandemic

"There is a post covid impact," said Mr Down.

"When we speak to landlords, there is still a reluctance in people coming back to the pub, particularly in the city centre.

READ: How Bradford's pubs survived the Covid-19 pandemic

"The pubs on the outskirts seem to have been less impacted. A lot of people got used to going to their local pubs when they were restricted from travelling." 

Across Yorkshire and the Humber, there have been 91 closures since the start of the pandemic, including 18 this year.

Pub numbers in England and Wales have dropped below 40,000 for the first time, with 200 lost between the end of 2021 and the end of June.

The figures cover pubs that pay business rates, including those vacant and offered to let.

The Old Bank shut last year

Mr Down said: "It is a bit of an unusual situation. How some of the bigger pubs have been closing down and the smaller pubs are doing well. I think there is a little bit of a change in the market.

"The more traditional pubs, certainly the ones that deal with drinks only, are struggling.

"The smaller independents seem to be doing alright along with those that sell food."

The rising costs of energy, goods and labour have been blamed for falling profits, and the industry is now calling on the Government to provide more support.

On the future, Mr Down added: "It is quite concerning for the brewers.

Mr Down worries for the brewers going forward

"They are having to deal with increasing costs and some pubs limiting their range of beers while they are still trying to get their customer base back up again.

"The brewers have been hit both ways, reduced sales and their costs are going up.

"They are a bit worried and we have already seen some big brewers go under, like Kelham Island Brewery in Sheffield."