UK business deaths: accommodation and food services
UK business deaths: accommodation and food services stood at 7,040 Businesses in Q2 2026, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is one of the indicators in the Business births, deaths and companies table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q1 2017 to Q2 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Business births, deaths and companies table
| Indicator | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business deaths by industry | |||||||||||
| Accommodation and food services | 7,040 | 8,195 | 6,515 | 5,825 | 7,055 | 8,290 | 6,145 | 5,950 | 7,070 | 8,790 | |
| Production | 3,225 | 3,490 | 2,835 | 2,935 | 3,295 | 3,595 | 3,195 | 3,100 | 3,420 | 3,835 |
Understanding UK business deaths: accommodation and food services
Corporate closures and enterprise deregistrations within hotels, restaurants, pubs, catering facilities, and tourism services across the United Kingdom are enumerated in this hospitality sector series. This indicator separates accommodation and food service losses from retail and leisure metrics, capturing businesses that have vanished from administrative tax and company registers. The figures include compulsory liquidations, voluntary closures, and entities falling below registration thresholds.
Analysing these numbers requires accounting for pronounced seasonal patterns, as hospitality establishments frequently formalise closures following the post-holiday trading period. Consecutive quarter comparisons can mislead if they fail to account for these recurring operational cycles. Analysts should examine year-on-year trends and consider external cost pressures, such as utility and supply tariffs, which heavily influence survival rates in this labour-intensive industry.
Frequently asked questions
- What types of businesses are tracked in accommodation and food services deaths?
- Hotels, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes, and event catering companies.
- Why do hospitality deaths display strong seasonal patterns?
- Many operators assess their financial viability after the peak winter holiday trading period and close accordingly.
- Does this count include mobile food vendors and market stalls?
- Yes, provided they were registered as formal corporate entities or met tax registration thresholds under food service codes.