Ireland's pub trade faces bleak outlook as customers plan to cut back on spending

'Reduced footfall coupled with soaring energy costs means we are almost certainly looking at the permanent closure of many more pubs' - Vintners

42% of Irish adults plan to visit hospitality venues far less often between now and New Year’s Eve. Picture: iStock

More than four in ten Irish adults plan fewer visits to pubs for the rest of the year as the rein in spending over the cost of living crisis putting further pressure on the industry.

The data from a new survey has prompted Vintners’ Federation of Ireland CEO, Paul Clancy, to call for urgent and substantive energy supports for the pub trade in Budget 2023. He says pubs cannot pass on increases to customers already under financial strain.