The number of UK breweries has continued to drop, with 136 fewer as of the end of March, compared to the same time last year, according to SIBA.
The total number of active breweries stood at 1,641 at the end of March, according to figures in the latest SIBA UK Brewery Tracker.
“Times are incredibly tough for independent breweries, and whilst the price of a pint in pubs may be rising for drinkers, the price brewers are paid for their beer actually dropped over the last 12 months,” said Andy Slee, chief executive of SIBA.
“What is desperately needed is a lower tax burden for pubs, lower direct taxes for brewers, and greater access for independent breweries to sell to pubs in their area, many of whom are currently controlled by global beer supply.
“The latest brewery tracker figures do take into account some brewing businesses which have been winding down during the last 12 months, and we have also further improved our tracking processes. But even factoring that in, clearly things are not moving in the direction the industry would have hoped.”
The SIBA Independent Beer Report 2025 showed that, on average, 60% of pubs within 40 miles of an independent brewery were inaccessible to them, blocking small brewery sales and reducing consumer choice. The same report also showed small independent brewers were earning less for the beer they sell, despite prices rising in pubs.
The regional brewery closure figures show a very mixed picture across the UK. The South East had the biggest loss, with a net closure rate of 38. The Midlands has lost 33 breweries overall in the last 12 months, followed by the East, who lost 20. It’s a similar picture in the North East, with a -19 net closure rate.
Scotland had the next largest drop, with a -11 net closure rate, with Northern Ireland (-6), the South West (-6), and the North West (-5) posting more moderate closure rates. Wales was the one region of the UK in growth, with a small increase of two over the last year.
