UK's craft beer boom goes flat as breweries call last orders

Britain's brewery count is falling after growing from 500 in the early 2000s to over 3,000 by the late 2010s, with insolvencies hitting 45 in the year to March 2023 versus 15 the prior year. Energy bills that jumped 300-400% at peak wholesale prices, grain cost spikes from Ukraine war disruption, and market saturation in urban areas are squeezing margins just as younger consumers embrace moderation and no-alcohol alternatives. Pub closures accelerated to one per day in 2023, with 383 permanently lost in the first half alone, while supermarkets have rationalized craft ranges toward larger brands. The shakeout reflects broader consumer habit shifts: drinking less frequently but trading up in quality per occasion.