An average of nearly four UK pubs closed every day in 2007, according to new research.

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) said that 1,409 pubs closed last year, which equates to 27 per week – a 7 per cent increase on 2006 and a 14 per cent increase on 2005.

Rob Hayward, chief executive of BBPA, said: “Britain’s pubs are grappling with spiralling costs, sinking sales, fragile consumer confidence and the impact of the smoking ban. These figures show the stark reality of the pub trade today, in contrast to the hype surrounding the myth of ‘24-hour drinking’ and extended pub opening hours.

“Pub closures at this rate are threatening an important hub of our social fabric and community history. What we need to stop the decline is support from government and the general public.”

Urban pubs have been hardest hit, with 2 per cent of all urban pubs closing in the last six months. Pubs without the room to provide an outside area for smokers, and those that are not heavily focused on food sales, have faced particular difficulties.

According to the research, beer sales in pubs are now at their lowest level since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Today’s pubs are selling 14 million fewer pints a day than they did when sales were at their peak in 1979. In addition, rising costs in brewing, food and energy, have hit the trade hard.

Total alcohol sales in pubs have fallen by around 6 per cent in the last 12 months. While there has been a surge in food sales, profit margins are being squeezed because of the additional costs associated with selling food.