Public houses and bars Companies in the UK

SIC 56302Accommodation and food service activities|191% formed since 2020|Data updated 5 Sept 2026
27,545
Active

27,545 active companies in the UK are classified under public houses and bars (SIC code 56302). This sector falls under Section I — Accommodation and food service activities — of the UK Standard Industrial Classification. The sector has a relatively low 9% dissolution rate — 27,545 of 38,608 registrations remain active. The sector is experiencing rapid growth, with 191% of active businesses incorporated since 2020 — indicating strong recent demand. 128% of companies were formed after 2010, marking this as a sector with predominantly recent entrants. The average company age in this sector is 6.1 years. 108 large companies, 12 medium-sized firms operate in this sector. London leads with 8% of companies in this sector. Companies in this sector hold 25 government contracts valued at £16.4M. The sector's longest-standing company was incorporated in 1861.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, September 2026

27,545
Active Companies
I
SIC Section
1861
Oldest Company
191%
Growth (2020s)
6.1 yr
Avg Company Age

A rapidly growing sector with 191% of active companies formed since 2020.

Incorporation by Decade
32%
61%
Pre-1990: 264
1990s: 420
2000s: 2,074
2010s: 12,125
2020s: 23,164

Data Signals

Governance
82,1816 src
Financial
51,48910 src
Compliance
15,34515 src
Risk
12,97610 src
quality
12,5404 src
Trade
2292 src
ESG
2026 src
growth
542 src
operational
171 src
innovation
162 src
regulatory
81 src
corporate_structure
11 src

Sector Overview

The public houses and bars sector has a <Link href="/glossary/company-dissolution">9% dissolution rate</Link>. The average active company in this sector is 6.1 years old. Geographic concentration: 8% in LONDON.

9%
Dissolution rate
6.1 yrs
Avg company age

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 188 (61%)Medium: 12 (4%)Large: 108 (35%)

Government Activity

Companies in the public houses and bars sector have been awarded 25 government contracts worth £16.4M in total.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many public houses and bars companies are there in the UK?

There are 27,545 active companies classified under SIC code 56302 (Public houses and bars) in the UK, out of 38,608 total registered.

What is SIC code 56302?

SIC code 56302 stands for "Public houses and bars". It belongs to Section I — Accommodation and food service activities of the UK Standard Industrial Classification.

Where are most public houses and bars companies located?

The largest concentrations are in LONDON (2,106), GLASGOW (533), LIVERPOOL (512).

What is the average age of public houses and bars companies?

The average active public houses and bars company in the UK is 6.1 years old, with the oldest registration dating back to 1861.

What government data is available for public houses and bars companies?

Our database contains 175,058 data signals across 12 categories for active public houses and bars companies. The largest category is Governance with 82,181 signals from 6 government sources.

Research UK Companies with AI

5.9M companies, 50M+ signals from 53 government sources. Risk scores, director networks, entity analysis.

Data is updated daily from official UK government sources including Companies House. Information is provided for reference only.