The total number of pubs in the UK dropped by 1% to 57,500 in 2007, according to market research company Market & Business Development (MBD).

It blames the downward trend on an overall decline in alcohol consumption, increasing home consumption of cheap supermarket alcohol, the smoking ban, rising energy and employment costs, and falling consumer confidence.

According to the British Beer and Pub Association, pubs were closing at a rate of 27 a week. This is seven times faster than in 2006 and 14 times faster than in 2005.

MBD forecasts that pub numbers will fall by a further 2% in 2008 and another 2% in 2009 before rising by a cumulative 3% between 2009 and 2010. However, this still represents a 1% drop on 2007.

Food-focussed pubs will fare best, while wet-led venues will be hardest hit by the downturn.

The UK Public Houses Market Development report is complie quarterly and annually by Market & Business Development. It costs £600 for a single annual report or £725 for four quarterly reports.

Number of public houses in the UK

Source: MBD analysis of data from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) and trade estimates
* forecast figures

Number of public houses in England and Wales

Source: MBD and trade estimates

Number of public houses in Scotland

Source: MBD analysis of BBPA data and trade estimates

Number of public houses in Northern Ireland

Source: MBD analysis of BBPA data and MBD estimates