Dave King is the owener of The Townhouse in Lymington, Hampshire, and thanks to help from Airbnb the future for his pub — and others across the UK — may be a lot brighter

Over the past decade, the UK pub industry has faced severe challenges. With closures increasing by 6.7 per cent last year alone, the sector is fighting to stay afloat amid rising costs and changing consumer behavior.

In fact, just last week the Mirror reported that over 300 pubs have already closed in the first three months of 2025. And with rising prices, the damage by the end of the year could be huge.

The Mirror is championing the nation’s locals with its Your Pub Needs You campaign. Among our demands are a fighting fund for pubs and for measures to make it easier for communities to save their at-risk watering hole.

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For independent pubs like The Townhouse in Lymington, Hampshire, these challenges are really starting to hit home, with owner Dave King admitting that “this year has been a struggle so far”.

Dave took over The Townhouse over two years ago and has ensured that the pub’s suntrap courtyard and live music events have been at the centre of Lymington’s hospitality scene. “I’ve worked in the hospitality industry for over two decades and economically speaking, this January has been the toughest I’ve faced,” he said.

Dave explained to the Mirror that despite his best efforts, pubs don’t have the financial stability that larger chains do, as a result “locals and tourists are all that we have got”. He continued: “The only backup that we have is people coming in and drinking or eating, spending their money. We do not have the financial backup the big boys have.”

And Dave is right. Stonegate Pub Company, the largest pub company in the UK with around 4,800 managed, leased and tenanted pubs including Slug and Lettuce and Be At One, managed a whopping £117 million in operating profit in 2023. Popular brand J D Wetherspoons secured a collosol £2.04 billion in revenue in 2024, which was up 5.7 per cent compared to the previous year.

The financial climate for independent pubs is much different. With many of them facing uncertain financial futures, it’s becoming clear that something must be done to support this essential part of British culture.

Whilst Dave has seen little improvement recently, he also noted the current news is causing consumer caution, which has reflected in reduced spending. “All the headlines the last week have been about price rises, so I think people are still nervous, very nervous to spend money at the moment,” he shared.

As a consequence, it has been harder for pubs to reinvest money back into renovation and projects. For example, The Townhouse’s upstrairs has sat rundown for longer than Dave would have wanted.

However, in an effort to help small, independent pubs, Airbnb has teamed up with CAMRA to support pubs in transforming their unused rooms into short-term rental spaces. By doing this, pubs are not only increasing their revenue, but they are also encouraging tourism in the local community.

For Dave, this opportunity has been a game-changer. “I listed [the rooms] 24 hours ago and have already had three bookings,” he shared, clearly pleased with the immediate impact of the transformation. The two upstairs rooms at The Townhouse have been given a contemporary makeover, featuring exposed brickwork and airy tones that complement the lively atmosphere of the pub downstairs. With the New Forest as a stunning backdrop, the pub now offers guests the perfect place to stay while they explore the region’s natural beauty.

Dave’s enthusiasm for the project is evident. “The pub is brilliant, and in a short space of time we made our mark on the New Forest pub scene,” he shared proudly. “Now I show everyone the rooms — even if I don’t know them, I will show them.”

He continued: “Pubs need help, we need people to choose local and independent, so as a result of Airbnb’s generous investment and expert mentoring, we really hope that people will do just that at The Townhouse. My son is only eight-years-old but he wants nothing more than to manage a pub when he’s older and I can’t wait to show him the ropes as we enter what is set to be a busy spring thanks to this incredible renovation.”

The partnership with Airbnb has been transformative for other pubs too, helping them attract overnight guests, which in turn benefits local economies. Research shows that over half of Airbnb bookings (52 per cent) are made in rural areas, underscoring the importance of supporting small businesses in these less-explored regions.

This move has brought new life to rural pubs across the UK. As Luke Impett, Airbnb’s UK partnerships & external affairs lead, pointed out: “Pubs are the beating heart of any community and play a vital role in sustaining local economies. We know that travellers want to explore more of the UK’s rural gems and unique stays like these on Airbnb provide the perfect base for an authentic experience of the British countryside.”

With the added revenue from Airbnb bookings, Dave is optimistic about the future. “We really hope that people will choose local and independent pubs, so we can continue thriving and welcoming guests to our community.”

As the pub industry faces mounting pressures, it’s more important than ever to support local businesses. The rise of innovative solutions like Airbnb’s partnership with CAMRA offers a lifeline for independent pubs, showing that with the right help, these cherished establishments can adapt and continue to play a vital role in their communities.

As Dave says, it’s all about community: “We are not the generic high street with the same four or five bars or restaurants every town has. When you do go out, choose your local and maybe pick a more expensive-priced pint, which is local produce, enjoy it and go home – knowing that you are keeping that money circulating and coming back into the system.”

The Townhouse is one of a handful of pubs benefiting from this Airbnb initiative, alongside other rural pubs like The Swan Inn in Derbyshire and The Thomas Tripp in Dorset. These pubs, once struggling to survive, are now poised to flourish with a new revenue stream that draws visitors from across the country.

In total, over 350 UK pubs now listed on Airbnb and as such are helping to keep British pubs alive.