London Loses More Than 1,300 Pubs and Bars as Havering Faces Its Own Fight to Save Community Locals.
London has lost more than 1,300 pubs and bars since 2001, with new figures highlighting the scale of the decline across the capital. Havering has not escaped the trend, with the number of registered pubs and bars falling by almost a quarter over the same period, raising fresh questions about the future of the borough’s traditional community meeting places.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), based on its business register, show that London had approximately 4,835 registered pubs and bars in 2001. By 2024, that number had fallen to around 3,525, representing a reduction of approximately 1,310 premises, or 27 per cent.
The decline has affected boroughs across the capital, although some have experienced considerably greater losses than others.
Croydon recorded the largest numerical reduction among the boroughs highlighted in the figures, falling from approximately 165 pubs and bars in 2001 to 80 in 2024. That represents around 85 fewer registered premises.
Newham experienced one of the steepest percentage declines, with numbers falling from approximately 105 to 45, a reduction of around 57 per cent.
Barking and Dagenham also saw a substantial fall, from approximately 45 to 20, representing a decline of around 56 per cent.
Havering has experienced its own significant reduction.
The borough had approximately 85 registered pubs and bars in 2001, compared with around 65 in 2024. This represents a net reduction of approximately 20 premises, or 24 per cent.
Although this is below the overall percentage decline across London, it still represents a considerable change in the borough’s pub and bar landscape.
The figures measure registered businesses classified as public houses and bars. They do not provide a definitive record of individual pub closures, as new businesses may have opened during the period while others ceased trading. The figures are also rounded, so the comparisons should be treated as approximate.
More recent figures suggest the pressure on London’s pubs has continued.
According to the British Beer and Pub Association, London experienced a net loss of 172 pubs between 2020 and 2025, representing a 4.7 per cent reduction. A further 20 pubs reportedly closed between January and September 2026. These figures use a different dataset and should not be directly combined with the longer-term ONS figures.
For Havering, the debate over the future of traditional pubs has become particularly relevant as regeneration proposals come forward across the borough.
One of the most prominent examples is The Alderman in Harold Hill, which is included in the Chippenham Road regeneration proposals. The scheme includes 138 affordable homes, including supported accommodation, but would also involve the demolition of the pub.
The ONS figures show that Havering has retained a greater proportion of its registered pubs and bars than some London boroughs, but the longer-term decline is still evident.
With the borough continuing to face major housing and regeneration proposals, residents may want to see the future of local pubs and community facilities considered alongside the delivery of new homes.
The question is not simply how many pubs remain, but what role they play in the communities they serve, and whether that contribution can genuinely be replaced when an established local venue disappears.
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