Brewery closure rates stabilise in first half of 2026

The rate of brewery closures has slowed year-on-year first half of 2026, according to the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates’ (SIBA) latest UK Brewery Tracker.

For the first six months of 2026, net closures have averaged less than one brewery a week compared to nearly three a week in 2025.

The net UK brewery closure rate from January to June 2026 was -16, compared to a total loss of -137 breweries in 2025.

“The figures released today are a sign that brewery closure numbers may be beginning to stabilise following a number of particularly tough years – but for most breweries the struggles are not behind them,” said SIBA chief executive Andy Slee.

“Brewing businesses which have managed to weather the storm are seeing strong demand for independent beer, but profitability is still a concern with lack of access to pubs, high taxation and high production costs hitting brewers.”

Noting that consumer demand for indie beer remains strong, he warned: “Getting beers on the bar is tougher than ever with brewers on average not able to access 62% of the pubs in their local market. Independent beer offers quality, variety and a range of styles and flavours simply – but bars are dominated by a handful of mega brands.”

The SIBA UK Brewery Tracker figures paint a mixed picture across the UK, with four of the nine regions seeing an overall growth in brewery numbers. The north west, south east and Wales had the strongest performance, each seeing the net number rise by three, followed by the south west, which only added one site.

Fairing worse in the first six months of 2026 were Scotland (-9), the north east (-8), Midlands (-4), Northern Ireland (-4) and the east of England (-1).

“It is encouraging to see four areas of UK growing their number of breweries in the first half of 2026 – let’s hope this is the sign of things to come” added Slee.

Last year saw record closures across the UK as breweries struggled with rising costs and lingering Covid debt.

The beginning of this year saw Keystone Brewing Group acquired by the newly-formed Great British Drinks Company in £4.5m pre-pack deal, following financial pressures that saw the business appointing administrators in December.

The rescue package saved Yorkshire’s Black Sheep Brewery and its sister brands including Purity Brewing Co, Brew By Numbers, Brick Brewery, North Brewing Company, Magic Rock Brewing and Fourpure Brewing Co.

Scottish brewer and retailer Innis & Gunn also entered administration in March this year, but was bought out by existing shareholder C&C Group for £4.5m.