Greene King at risk of closing 150 pubs amid 'perfect storm' of rising inflation and taxes

As a result of this, hundreds of sites currently managed by the company will either be sold off or given to independent landlords

Furthermore, Greene King Pubs managing director Zoe Bowley is stepping down from her position, The Sun reports.

This latest departure from the firm comes as chief executive Nick Mackenzie has slammed the "perfect storm" of rising inflation and employment costs in recent months.

With this move, around half of the impacted locations will be transitioned into its "Pub Partners" division as leased or franchise venues, while the other 150 are being evaluated for a potential sale over the medium-term.

These pubs will be placed into a new and separate business enterprise, which will be managed under a simplified model during the transition.

Concerningly, under two per cent of Greene King's estate have been earmarked for immediate closure.

Greene King's latest move comes after Brewdog collapsed into administration in March 2026, after years of losses and failed to find a buyer for the whole business.

US firm Tilray Brands has purchased the pub chain's core assets for about £33million, which is a fraction of its former £1billion valuation.

As a result, 38 bars have been shut immediately, and around 484 jobs were lost, while only a smaller chunk of the business survived.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves's decision to raise National Insurance contribution rates for employers and the National Living Wage has provoked the ire of publicans, who have cited the higher cost of doing business.

Earlier this year, Ms Reeves unveiled a cost of living support package for pubs, relieving the pressure placed on owners by business rates and licensing reform.

Under these reforms, pubs will get a 15 per cent cut to new business rates bills from April, followed by a two-year real-terms freeze, as well as a review into the method used to value them for business rates.

Furthermore, Labour has announced a new High Street Strategy to help support retail, leisure, and hospitality businesses across communities.

In January, the Chancellor said: "If we’re going to restore the pride in our communities, we need our pubs and our high streets to thrive.

"We’re backing British pubs with additional support, and our new High Streets Strategy will help tackle the long-term challenges that our much-loved retail, leisure, and hospitality businesses have faced. Thriving local businesses, bustling high streets and pride restored in our communities – that’s what this Government is delivering."