Eight pubs a week shut their doors for good across the UK over the first half of the year amid rising tax and labour costs, according to new figures.

Industry bosses said it is “heartbreaking” and highlighted the need for supportive tax measures from the Treasury in the autumn budget.

Official Government statistics show 209 pubs were demolished or converted for other uses over the six months to June.

The data, which was analysed by commercial real estate specialists at Ryan, show the overall number of pubs in England and Wales, including those vacant and being offered to let, fell to 38,780.

It means 2,283 pubs have vanished from communities across England and Wales forever since the start of 2020.

Valuation Office Agency data shows many of these have been demolished or converted into

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