from 2006 , when 216 pubs closed ; and 2005 , when just more than 100 closed down . The advocacy groups , however , say the ban may be just one of many factors shutting pub doors . Watch more on the decline of British pubs '' Pub owners -- landlords , as they 're called in Britain -- are turning in their leases for a variety of reasons . Some say it 's hard to compete with cheap alcohol sold at supermarkets , a trend increasing amid the credit crunch . Others feel they could make more money operating as a wine bar or cafe . Patrons say two things in particular have had an impact on the decline of pubs -- one being the smoking ban . Those who used to enjoy a smoke along with their pint now must smoke outside , and many pubs -- particularly in urban areas -- have little space or shelter on the sidewalk . CAMRA says , however , that the effects of the smoking ban , introduced just halfway into 2007 , are `` not yet fully evident . '' Pubgoers were also turned off by a boost to
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- British people love pubs -- so much , in fact , that a recent survey found that they cherish only fish and chips and the Queen more . A combination of factors including the smoking ban , higher taxes and cheap supermarket alochol are hurting pubs . Yet this enduring icon of British culture is under threat after having flourished for hundreds of years . Recent surveys found that more British pubs are closing than ever before -- victims of an indoor smoking ban , higher taxes and food prices , and changing times . Tuesday marks one year since England followed Wales , Scotland , and Northern Ireland to ban indoor smoking at pubs , restaurants and bars . Some feared that would mark the death of the traditional British pub in all its smoky glory -- and they were quick to blame the ban when surveys found the pub numbers in sharp decline . Those findings , released in March by the British Beer and Pub Association and CAMRA , the Campaign for Real Ale , showed that more than 1,400 pubs closed in 2007 . That 's a sharp increase