OVER A quarter of the town's pubs have been lost over the last eight years, new figures show.

Across Slough, ten pubs and bars have shut down permanently since 2010, a decay that is being mirrored nationwide. Figures by the Office for National Statistics show that in 2010 there were 35 pubs and bars in Slough, but by 2017 there were just 25. Across the UK, 5,745 pubs and bars have shut down over the same time period.

Tax, especially duty on beer, VAT levels, and business rates are often listed as among the greatest challenges modern pub owners face, in addition to a changing culture that is seeing more people drink at home.

Britain's Beer Alliance, a group of organisations in the pub and brewing sector, has launched a campaign called 'Long Live the Local', which is calling on MP's to reduce beer duty.

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 ten 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."

Despite the troubles facing the British pub, it isn't all bad news, as 21 boroughs have avoided the decline and now have more pubs than they did in 2010.

Ms Simmonds explained: "Pubs have responded to changing drinking habits with a more diverse offering, such as coffee, live music, wifi, creating experiences, and food. Pubs now serve one billion meals a year and are at the forefront of modern British cooking."