The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has revealed that the number of UK pubs that were forced to close during the first half of 2009 increased by a third, compared with the last six months of 2008.

New figures, compiled by CGA Strategy for the trade organisation, show that the rate of pub closures had increased from 39 per week in the second half of 2008r to 52 since the turn of the year, which has resulted in the loss of 24,000 jobs. More than 5,000 pubs across Britain have closed down during the past three years, and the BBPA has expressed renewed concern that the proposed VAT increase in January and the increase in alcohol duty above the rate of inflation will only make the situation worse.

BBPA chief executive, David Long, said: "The recession is proving extremely tough for Britain's pubs. However, those economic pressures have been made much worse by a Government that has continued to pile on tax and regulatory burdens. "Government should look at valuing and rewarding pubs as community assets. Not only would this have social policy benefits by supporting a hub of community cohesion, but financial policy benefits in terms of tax revenues, particularly at a time when the public purse is stretched."