MONMOUTHSHIRE has lost a quarter of its pubs since 2010, according to official figures, with 30 pubs and bars having closed their doors for good.

The figures from the Office for National Statistics show that in 2010 there were 120 pubs and bars but by 2017 that had fallen to 90.

Pubs have been pointing the finger of blame at the taxman for their troubles, complaining about the duty on beer, VAT levels and the cost of business rates.

Britain’s Beer Alliance, a group of organisations in the pub and brewing sector, has started a campaign called Long Live the Local with a petition and calls for people to write to their MP to have beer duty reduced.

Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “We are calling on the Government to cut beer duty in the upcoming November budget.

“Seven in 10 alcoholic drinks sold in a pub are beer, so cutting beer duty is the most direct way of helping pubs. This is why we are backing the Long Live the Local campaign to cut beer tax.”

A spokesperson for the Treasury said: “90 per cent of pubs across the country can benefit from the business rates relief introduced at Budget 2017, which could save them up to £1,000 a year.

“In addition, both businesses and their customers have saved around £3 billion since 2013 thanks to changes to alcohol duty.”

The latest data from the ONS shows that between 2016 and 2017, five Monmouthshire pubs called time for the last time.

A change in consumer habits, with people drinking at home more often, has been blamed for fewer people visiting pubs.

But CAMRA, the Campaign For Real Ale, said that pubs play a vital role in communities.

Tom Stainer, CAMRA’s chief communications officer, said: “In many areas and villages, they provide the last remaining public meeting space, with meeting halls and post offices already lost.

“They also create jobs and bring money into local areas, which tend to be spent in the local area, as compared to large chain cafes. Many pubs help to support the night time economy in town centres and create safer communities after nightfall.”