Craft beer boom helps revive pub trade's fortunes

The number of pub and bar companies going insolvent has fallen by 7 per cent over the past year amid increased popularity of craft beers and food, a new survey shows.

Demand for craft beer and access to alternative finance is helping the pub trade. Picture: John Devlin

Ortus Secured Finance said the number of companies going out of business decreased from 521 to 480, partly due to firms being able to replace bank funding with alternative finance.

Managing director Jon Salisbury said: “With insolvencies steadily declining in the last few years, it is clear that the pub sector is performing well.

“Small and big pub companies alike are becoming increasingly aware of alternative finance and the value continued investment can have for their business.”

He added: “Finance plays a vital part in helping pub and bar companies take advantage of growing trends in public demand such as craft beer.”

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