NIQ: Britain licensed premises flat in Q2 2026 at 98,564 amid high closures and openings
NIQ•Bars saw the sharpest churn
Bars showed the sharpest churn: 4,695 outlets at end-June; 515 opened in the past 12 months; 191 opened in Q2; sector up 1.4% year-on-year.
City centers outperformed the broader market
City-center licensed premises rose 0.4% year-on-year, outperforming the broader market; Liverpool grew 4% while Brighton rose 2.2%.
Britain licensed premises stayed flat in Q2 2026
NIQ reported Britain’s licensed premises were flat in Q2 2026, ending June at 98,564 outlets, down 0.2% year-on-year.
Closures hit 1,839 between March and June, about 20 sites a day; openings totaled 1,794, nearly offsetting the decline.
Operators faced weak consumer confidence, persistent cost inflation, pressure linked to Middle East conflict, pointing to continued business fragility.
