London has lost a quarter of its pubs since 2001, an average loss of 81 pubs per year

The number of London pubs has fallen by a quarter – an average loss of 81 pubs per year – in the last 15 years, according to figures released by London mayor Sadiq Khan.

The number of pubs in 2016 fell 25 per cent to 3,615 from 4,835 pubs in 2001.

Barking and Dagenham has lost more than half its pubs (56 per cent) while Newham and Croydon have lost 52 per cent and 45 per cent of drinking holes respectively.

Hackney is the only borough that did not report an overall loss with an increase of three per cent since 2001.

Read more: Group of six London pubs sold to the Laine Pub Company for around £4m

The decline of the number of pubs in the capital was blamed on issues including rises in business rates, conflicts with residents and developers and the relaxation of permitted development rights in 2015 – which allows certain types of development to go ahead without planning permission.

Khan is working with the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) and night czar Amy Lame to undertake an annual audit to keep a track of pub closures and lay out plans to reduce closures in the capital.​

Khan said:

“The great British pub is at the heart the capital’s culture. From traditional workingmen’s clubs to cutting-edge micro-breweries, London’s locals are as diverse and eclectic as the people who frequent them.

“That’s why I’m shocked at the rate of closure highlighted by these statistics, and why we have partnered with Camra to ensure we can track the number of pubs open in the capital and redouble our efforts to stem the rate of closures. From the outset of my mayoralty, I’ve made safeguarding and growing the night-time economy a key priority and this simply isn’t possible without a thriving pub scene. Together with my night czar, Amy Lame, we will do all we can to protect pubs across London.”