Hospitality

Drinks industry calls for reduction in excise tax as 450 pubs close since Covid-19

Almost 2,000 pubs have closed their doors since 2005, with rural areas most affected

The Temple Bar pub in Dublin, one of the country’s most famous pubs: Research shows that all 26 counties experienced a decline in the number of public houses from 2005 to 2022, with the lowest decrease seen in the capital. Picture: Getty