The rate of brewery closures has slowed in the first half of 2026 compared to 2025 according to the SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers and Associates) UK Brewery Tracker, published today.
For the first six months of 2026, net closures have averaged less than one brewery a week compared to nearly three in 2025.
Taking into account all brewery openings and closures in the UK, the net brewery closure rate from January to June 2026 was down 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. 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,” said SIBA chief executive Andy Slee (above).
Last year saw record closures across the UK as breweries struggled with rising costs and lingering Covid debt. In support of independent breweries SIBA has called for an increase in Draught Relief – a lower rate of duty for draught beer mainly sold in pubs – and for government to prioritise an announcement of its market access review considering ways to improve small independent breweries’ ability to sell to pubs.
“Consumer demand for indie beer remains really strong, but getting beers on the bar is tougher than ever with brewers on average not able to access 62 per cent of the pubs in their local market. Independent beer offers quality, variety, and a range of styles and flavours – but bars are dominated by a handful of mega brands,” Slee added.
The 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 had a more modest single brewery growth. 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” said Slee.
