Musings of a CEO: When Pubs Close, Communities Lose More Than a Pint

From our work helping brands tell their stories, it’s clear that connection is everything. People gather, exchange ideas, and form bonds in spaces that feel alive. Yet, the places that have long been the heartbeat of our communities - restaurants, pubs, cafes, and hotels - are facing unprecedented strain.

According to UKHospitality, since October 2024, more than 89,000 jobs in UK hospitality have been lost, accounting for over half of all UK job losses since the last Budget.

Behind the statistics are real people: young bartenders struggling to make ends meet, chefs leaving kitchens they love, and family-run pubs closing after decades of being gathering points for friends, neighbours, and local networks.

Rising costs - from National Insurance contributions to energy bills - combined with the impact of inflation on everyday spending, are forcing businesses to make impossible choices. Many are cutting staff, reducing hours, or shuttering doors entirely. Whilst government relief measures, such as business rates support and licensing incentives, are welcome, the scale of the challenge means these interventions may not be enough.

As a PR agency owner, I understand the tough decisions businesses must make to survive, but what keeps me awake at night is the broader impact: hospitality isn’t just an economic sector; it’s the social glue of our towns and cities. These are the spaces where connections happen, stories are shared, and communities thrive. Losing them is losing a part of the UK’s cultural and social fabric.

For those of us in branding and communications, there are lessons here. Hospitality’s struggle is a reminder that a brand’s purpose cannot exist in isolation from its community. The most resilient, respected, and meaningful brands are those that understand their role in the lives of the people they serve - and actively nurture those connections. Whether it’s a local pub fostering conversation or a global brand supporting social causes, community is at the heart of purpose-driven storytelling.

Policymakers and business leaders must act urgently. Supporting hospitality is not just an economic decision - it is a societal one. Lowering taxes, easing operational costs, and enabling investment are investments in human connection, culture, and cohesion.

When pubs, cafes, and restaurants thrive, so do the communities they serve. When communities thrive, so do the brands that live within them.

At Marriott Communications, our work is grounded in this principle: connection is everything. Hospitality reminds us why.

In every story we help tell, every brand we help build, the lesson is the same - people come first, and meaningful spaces for gathering are essential. Protecting them is not just good policy; it’s good purpose.