UK’s 25 top pub capitals and the country’s drinking deserts | UK

We’ve crunched the numbers on the UK’s pub capitals (Image: South_agency via Getty Images)

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The UK’s pub capital has been revealed, and it’s a stunning region characterised by welcoming boozers and rolling hills.

The pub sector has endured a challenging year, with numerous establishments confronting uncertain prospects. UK Hospitality has issued a stark warning that, without intervention, six venues will shut their doors daily throughout this year, amounting to over 2,000 closures.

This represents a dramatic increase from the 378 that ceased trading in 2025, as recorded by the Institute for Licensing. The British Beer and Pub Association has raised concerns that publicans will need to shift an additional 1.3 billion pints annually just to counterbalance escalating taxation.

Yet despite this rather bleak overall outlook, thousands of exceptional pubs continue to operate nationwide, with certain regions where the industry is, whilst perhaps not flourishing, at least holding steady in comparative terms.

Analysis conducted by the Express data team has revealed that drinkers in the Derbyshire Dales enjoy better access to pubs than residents anywhere else across England and Wales. This rural authority boasts 152 pubs and bars within its boundaries, based on our examination of official government statistics.

Matlock Bath, Peak District National Park, Derbyshire

The Derbyshire Dales aren’t just blessed with beauty, but lots of pubs (Image: diane10981 via Getty Images)

This translates to approximately 25 establishments for every 10,000 adult residents.

It represents the highest concentration for any local authority throughout England and Wales, setting aside two locations where exceptionally sparse populations distort the data – the City of London (188 pubs and bars, equating to 132 per 10,000 adults) and the Isles of Scilly (six pubs, equating to 29 per 10,000). Westminster boasts the second-highest concentration of pubs when measured against its adult population. The London borough’s 407 drinking establishments equate to 23 per 10,000 residents of legal drinking age.

Powys matches this figure with 23 per 10,000 adults across its 259 pubs.

Next comes Pembrokeshire with 21 per 10,000 adults, followed by four local authority areas each recording 18 pubs for every 10,000 adults – Westmorland and Furness, North Yorkshire, Gwynedd and Ceredigion.

Our interactive map allows you to explore the number of pubs per 10,000 adults across every council area nationwide.

When examining pub density by geographic area, London boroughs dominate the top 10. The City of London’s 188 pubs and bars translates to an impressive 169 per square mile (the area, famously dubbed « the Square Mile, » actually exceeds one square mile in size).

Westminster’s 407 establishments represent roughly 49 per square mile. Islington features 40 pubs per square mile, whilst Camden records 29, Hackney 22, and both Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham each have 20 per square mile.

Beyond the capital, Liverpool claims the highest pub density. The city’s 502 watering holes amount to nearly 12 per square mile, ranking 11th across England and Wales. Manchester’s 432 pubs equate to nearly 10 per square mile. Portsmouth’s 139 pubs amount to nine per square mile, as do Blackpool’s 114 pubs.

Norwich’s 127 pubs and Brighton’s 244 pubs both work out at eight per square mile, the same as Bristol’s 321.