About 13 to 14 pubs in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, are at risk of closing down this year as the hospitality industry faces a growing financial crisis. A report released on 2 March 2026 by the Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce shows that one in eight pubs across the country are now in severe financial distress.
The research, conducted by accounting firm Price Bailey, found that the number of venues at imminent risk of insolvency has risen from one in ten last year to 12.5 per cent today. Out of more than 38,000 bars and pubs looked at, nearly a quarter are technically insolvent because they have more debt than assets.
Experts say the industry is struggling with a “perfect storm” of rising costs, including high energy bills and the April 2025 increase in Employer National Insurance. The rise in the National Living Wage has also made it harder for local owners to keep their businesses running while customers have less money to spend due to inflation.
According to data from the Office for National Statistics, there are around 110 pubs and bars in the Peterborough area. Since 2020, the wider Cambridgeshire region has already lost more than 50 pubs, leaving many residents concerned about the loss of community hubs and jobs in the night-time economy.
While the government has tried to help by softening the 2026 business-rate revaluation, business leaders warn this may not be enough to fix the deep-seated problems in the sector. Many local venues are seen as essential social spaces, particularly in outlying villages where the pub is often the last remaining place for residents to meet.
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