On October 9, 2025, the UK government unveiled an ambitious plan to overhaul the licensing laws governing pubs and bars in England and Wales—a move that has sparked both hope and skepticism across the hospitality industry. The Cheers For Change initiative, championed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, promises to fast-track a review of what many see as outdated restrictions, with the aim of breathing new life into Britain’s ailing pub sector.
The heart of the proposal is a four-week call for evidence, inviting landlords, local communities, and customers to share their experiences and ideas. This consultation will inform nine central recommendations crafted by the government’s Licensing Taskforce, with a particular focus on extending opening hours, streamlining on-trade alcohol licensing, and making it easier for venues to serve food outdoors and host live music events.
Starmer has positioned the reforms as a lifeline for a struggling industry. “Pubs and bars are the beating heart of our communities,” he said in a statement reported by BBC. “Under our Plan for Change, we’re backing them to thrive. This review is about cutting red tape, boosting footfall, and making it easier for venues to put on the kind of events that bring people together. When our locals do well, our economy does too.”
The government’s blueprint includes more than just longer hours. There are plans to cut the cost of licensing, extend relief on business rates, and reduce alcohol duty on draught pints. The Licensing Taskforce has also recommended scrapping the requirement for local newspaper advertising when applying for or altering a licence—a step that could save both time and money for small business owners. Additionally, a permanent increase in the number of temporary event notices would make it simpler to host one-off events on unlicensed premises, potentially unlocking new revenue streams for venues.
Trade bodies and some industry leaders have welcomed the review. Nick Mackenzie, chief executive of Greene King and co-chair of the Licensing Taskforce, described the update as a “vital step towards reducing the challenges of running a hospitality business.” He argued that “pubs are faced with continued rising costs, placing them under enormous pressures which is why the government must continue to back the sector, including critical reforms on business rates which would unlock opportunities for pubs to invest and help drive economic growth.”
UKHospitality, which played a key role in shaping the recommendations, echoed this sentiment. Kate Nicholls, the group’s chief executive, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, “This is not about trading later, this is not about 24-hour licensing and drinking, this is about making sure that we can respond to consumer demands, and that we can offer freedom and flexibility at a low enough cost.” She urged hospitality businesses to support the proposed changes, but cautioned, “These changes are absolutely not a silver bullet to solve the existential cost challenges hospitality businesses are facing.”
Yet not everyone is convinced the reforms will deliver the rescue the industry so desperately needs. Mark Costello, a brewery and taproom owner in Leeds, highlighted the persistent issue of rising operational costs. “It doesn’t matter how long we’re allowed to stay open; it costs a huge amount to stay open so what we need is the customers to fill the place, and they don’t have the money to go out like they used to,” he told BBC. “We need help with business rates, energy and staffing costs.” Other landlords, like Jay Ashton from Huddersfield, lament the “bureaucratic mountain” they face when dealing with local councils, which they see as barriers to growth.
Tim Martin, the outspoken founder of the Wetherspoon’s pub chain, was blunt in his assessment, calling the plan “a moderate plus at best.” He acknowledged that more flexibility is welcome, but insisted that economic pressures—high taxes, business rates, and soaring energy costs—are forcing many pubs to reduce their hours or close altogether. Paul Crossman, chair of the Campaign for Pubs and landlord of three pubs in York, warned that the real crisis is a “toxic combination” of increasing costs and customers spending less due to the ongoing cost of living crisis. “Most pubs have already cut back their hours, while nightclubs have closed in large numbers,” he noted.
Recent figures paint a sobering picture. According to the British Beer and Pub Association, the number of pubs in the UK has steadily decreased every year since 2000. For 2025, the association estimates 378 pubs will close across England, Wales, and Scotland, resulting in more than 5,600 job losses. Industry data from CGA by NIQ highlights a shift in consumer habits: sales before 8 p.m. have increased over the past year, but sales at 10 p.m. are down 5 percent, and sales after 1 a.m. have dropped by 15 percent. It seems Britons are opting for earlier evenings out, even as the government considers extending late-night hours.
Critics of the reforms have voiced concerns over potential unintended consequences. Richard Piper, chief executive of the charity Alcohol Change UK, told The Guardian that the proposed changes could become a “charter for chaos” if not implemented with input from local authorities and health experts. “Permitting vendors to sell alcohol later into the evening would inevitably mean more victims of crime, including domestic violence, more antisocial behaviour and disturbance, more police time spent dealing with drink-fuelled incidents and both ambulance and A&E staff having to deal with even more people who have come to harm as a result of alcohol,” he warned. The Institute of Alcohol Studies echoed these fears, arguing that loosening licensing laws could increase alcohol-related harm.
Meanwhile, the government maintains that no one will be forced to open later, and that the reforms are about giving landlords more freedom and flexibility to respond to local demand. A spokesperson for the Department of Business and Trade said the changes are designed to help venues host events that bring people together and support economic growth. With Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s second budget on the horizon, the Treasury is reportedly considering raising business rates for large premises like supermarkets to fund discounts for smaller venues such as pubs and independent shops—a move that could offer some relief to embattled publicans.
As the four-week consultation unfolds, the future of Britain’s pubs hangs in the balance. While the Cheers For Change initiative promises to cut red tape and offer new opportunities, many in the industry insist that only bold action on costs and taxes will truly secure the survival of this cherished national institution.
