A NEW study has shown that Reading is among the places with the smallest proportion of pubs for its population in the UK.
The study analyzed official data form the Office for national Statistics on pub counts across UK cities to calculate the number of pubs per 100,000 residents.
The study then determined which locations offer the fewest options per capita, focusing on cities in England and Wales where consistent licensing data was available for last year.
Milton Keynes was ranked as having the smallest amount of pubs compared to its population (just under 17 pubs per 100,000), followed by Southend-on-Sea (with just over 20 per 100,000).
Reading placed third worst with 67 pubs serving just under 318,000 people–slightly over 21 pubs per 100,000.
It was followed by Nottingham, Preston, and Newport.
Leicester, Dudley, Cardiff, and Doncaster rounded out the bottom 10 places, respectively.
Elsewhere Brighton & Hove topped the rankings (at 147.5 pubs per 100,000), and Wakefield, Salisbury, and Chester, in second to fourth respectively.
British pub culture is facing challenges and pubs continue to disappear from communities across the country.
Recent analysis of government figures revealed that 209 pubs were demolished or converted for other uses over the opening six months of this year–around eight every week.
This equates to nearly 2,300 pubs disappearing from communities across England and Wales since the start of 2020.
The South East was hit hardest, according to the report, losing 31 pubs during the first half of 2025, as rising costs and increased taxes force venues to close their doors permanently.
As the closure rate accelerates, with eight pubs disappearing every week, these differences are likely to become even more pronounced.
