Time called on 26 pubs a week

Pub closures have increased to 26 a week, although campaigners hope the industry’s fortunes are set to improve,

The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) said the number of pubs shutting for good had increased from 18 a week in the past few months.

Camra said the figures showed how important it was that Chancellor George Osborne scrapped the beer duty escalator – which increased beer prices two per cent above inflation – in his last Budget.

Chief executive Mike Benner said: “We believe that the scrapping of the beer duty escalator and the extra 1p off beer duty announced in this year’s Budget could mark a turning point for pubs.”

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