More than one pub a day closed its doors in the UK in 2024, to leave just 38,989, the smallest figure since records began in 1990, writes Emily Hawkins.
But the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) reckons the scale of the crisis is far greater - estimating that the last time there were so few watering holes in England and Wales was a century ago.
And now industry leaders have sounded the alarm over Labour's incoming barrage of tax rises - which could cause even more to shut.
Some 412 pubs were demolished or converted into shops or flats over the year to December, according to analysis of Government statistics by property consultancy Altus.
This is the sharpest drop in pub numbers since 2021, when venues were crippled by strict Covid rules and rampant energy prices.
And it is feared that next year could signal last orders for even more establishments as they face a £650m hit from Rachel Reeves' disastrous first Budget.
It comes after the Campaign for Real Ale published two editions of its Good Beer Guide for 2025 - one featuring Coroempty, nation Street's Rovers Return on the cover, and the other, Emmerdale's Woolpack, which is selling faster.
Camra chairman Ash Corbett-Collins said the "iconic" venues represented "the familiarity and community spirit of pubs".
But, with his glass half-empty, Altus Group's Alex Probyn said: "Many publicans that I speak to are extremely worried that this could be their last Christmas."
A raft of higher costs including the National Insurance contributions paid by employers, the national minimum wage and a new workers' rights package, will heap extra pressure on to firms from April.
Businesses will also be clobbered with higher business rates bills after the Chancellor failed to reform the levy.
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, which represents major brewers and 20,000 pubs, said: "We believe these figures are the lowest in a century, which is devastating given the critical role pubs play for the economy, job market, and our communities."
She called for "swift, meaningful" tax reform and a slow introduction of new employment costs to help pubs continue "being a home from home for so many".
In her Budget, Ms Reeves declared the price of a pint of beer would fall as she reduced beer duty by the equivalent of a penny per drink.
But publicans say the cut will be more than swallowed by rising costs elsewhere.
The raft of hikes will then leave them with no other choice but to pass costs on to punters or shut.
