More than 2,000 pubs shut down since the peak of the Celtic Tiger, report finds
Report To Pubs 2023 To Annually Showed Of The From An 114 The 144 Over Average Trend 2019 Closed Rising With Period
More than 2,000 pubs served their final orders since the peak of the Celtic Tiger era around 2005, according to a report.
A report by Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) have been permanently shuttered over the last 20 years and the number of closures ticked upwards post-pandemic.
“The continuing decline is taking place against a backdrop of societal change and cost of business strains,” said DCU professor Tony Foley, author of the report, 'Support Growth: A Sustainable Future for Ireland’s Drinks and Hospitality Sector'.
Separate analysis releases in recent months showed that Irish consumers are becoming more mindful of alcohol consumption and are leaning towards 0% alcohol alternatives which may be impacting pub footfall.
Meanwhile, cost pressures have weighed consumers in recent years as alcohol companies including Bulmers maker C&C and Guinness owner Diageo previously increased prices in an inflationary environment and many pubs were forced to pass on these costs to punters due to historically thin margins in the industry.
The report showed an average of 114 pubs closed annually over the period with trend rising to 144 from 2019 to 2023.
The pub sector in rural areas has been more vulnerable to closures than those in urban locations, the report also signalled.
There was a higher number of closures across Limerick, Roscommon, Cork, Tipperary, and Laois while there was a 3% decline in Dublin.
“We are also seeing that with many pubs, which are often small, family-run businesses, sustaining business is becoming harder and harder,” said Mr Foley.