THE post-pandemic impact on hospitality including the cost of living crisis is impacting the viability of pubs and bars, and the loss of some public houses was felt across in 2022.
The final closure of 2022 came on December 28 when The Glen on Gilstead Lane, Bingley, closed after it became ‘financially unviable’ to remain open due to low trade.
Bosses at The Glen announced in early December that it was due to close for good in January 2023.
But following what had been described as ‘exceptionally low trade during December’ with the exception of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the current tenants called time earlier than its original planned date of January 2.
A post on The Glen’s Facebook page said: “It is with deepest sadness that due to exceptionally low trade during December (with the exception of the Christmas quiz, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day), it has become financially unviable to keep the doors open at the Glen - two months before the end of our lease."
There were other closures, including the Halfway House, Huddersfield Road, in Wyke, which closed in late 2022.
In December, plans were submitted to Bradford Council to demolish the pub to make way for a mechanics and car wash.
Other pubs, including the historic New Beehive Inn, on Westgate, closed and a planning application to turn it into offices was submitted to Bradford Council in the autumn.
The plans, which were eventually withdrawn in November after a number of objections, came shortly after the pub was awarded listed status by Historic England.
A spokesperson for the Bradford branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) said while Covid had a major impact on many pubs, it is the post-pandemic cost of living crisis that is hard for some pubs to remain viable.
Peter Down, pubs officer for Bradford CAMRA, said: "It was feared the impacts of the Government restrictions associated with the Covid pandemic would have deep and lasting impacts on the hospitality trade.
"In the case of the pubs and bars in the Bradford area, fortunately, the impacts were not as severe as expected although there were some casualties, especially in and around the city centre.
"Several landlords have indicated that the financial support provided at the time was enough to keep their businesses afloat.
"However, the post-pandemic situation is more concerning.
"The increasing costs of energy and goods, the cost of living crisis and the difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff are all having an impact on the viabilities of pubs and bars.
"Over the last year, there have been an increasing number of pubs that have been closed and bought for re-development and other uses.
"There is concern that, once Government energy support is reduced in April, the pressures will increase and more establishments will be at risk of closure and redevelopment.
"Pubs and bars provide an important community function in providing somewhere for people to gather, socialise and bond. If they close down, this will be lost.
"The CAMRA Bradford branch urges everyone to visit their local pub and help support it during the coming year - they need the support of their communities now more than ever."
While a number of pubs shut in 2022, Bradford CAMRA also compiled a list of pubs that closed either during or since Covid. They include:
• Brick Box, Ivegate – Closed 2020.
• The Old Bank, Market Street – Closed 2020.
• The Beehive, Saltaire Road, Shipley – Closed late 2021.
• Station Master’s House, Park Road, Bingley – Closed in September 2022. The increasing energy and food costs were cited as the primary reasons.
• Generous Pioneer, Burley-in-Wharfedale – Planning permission was granted to turn the site into a retirement village. In September 2022, it was noted the pub had been demolished and construction work was ongoing.
• Dalesway Hotel, Leeds Road, Ilkley – Closed in 2021.
• Fire Brigade Tavern, Great Horton, Bradford – In September 2022, planning permission was granted to convert it to offices.
• Hare & Hounds, Toller Lane, Heaton – Closed in autumn 2022. The reasons for this closure are believed to be it was not finacially viable.
• Great Northern, Thornton – Closed in December 2021. Planning permission was granted in May 2022 to convert it to business / commercial units.
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