Sensemaker Are British pubs dying?
Feb 2, 2026
Glenn Hutchinson, a long-serving landlord who has run the Spinner's Pub for 15 years, talks about life on the pub frontline. He describes rising costs squeezing margins. He explains how he and his wife are covering shifts to stay afloat. He reacts to recent business rates changes and warns many pubs could still close.
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Long Years Keeping A Pub Afloat
- Glenn Hutchinson has managed the Spinner's Pub in Chorley for 15 years and describes recent times as very tough.
- He and his wife have been working full-time and effectively paying themselves about £6 an hour to keep the pub afloat.
Extra Shifts Instead Of Hiring
- To save costs, Glenn and his wife have picked up extra shifts rather than hiring staff.
- Their strategy reduced payroll but left them underpaid for the hours they work.
Rates Reform Sparks Industry Backlash
- Government business-rate reforms removed pandemic-era discounts and sparked fierce industry backlash.
- The reversal offered only a 15% discount for two years, which some pubs say falls far short of earlier relief.