Public houses and bars Companies in the UK

SIC 56302Accommodation and food service activities|172.8% formed since 2020|Data updated 4 Jun 2026
27,894
Active

27,894 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 0.5% dissolution rate — 27,894 of 35,891 registrations remain active. The sector is experiencing rapid growth, with 172.8% of active businesses incorporated since 2020 — indicating strong recent demand. 119% 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. 115 large companies, 11 medium-sized firms operate in this sector. London leads with 8% of companies in this sector. Companies in this sector hold 27 government contracts valued at £16.6M. The sector's longest-standing company was incorporated in 1861.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, June 2026

27,894
Active Companies
I
SIC Section
1861
Oldest Company
172.8%
Growth (2020s)
6.1 yr
Avg Company Age

A rapidly growing sector with 172.8% of active companies formed since 2020.

Incorporation by Decade
34%
58%
Pre-1990: 263
1990s: 421
2000s: 2,070
2010s: 12,146
2020s: 20,991

Data Signals

Governance
87,0266 src
Financial
49,88511 src
Compliance
14,86913 src
Risk
10,63410 src
quality
6,1444 src
Trade
2402 src
ESG
2086 src
growth
523 src
operational
151 src
innovation
102 src
regulatory
91 src
corporate_structure
11 src

Sector Overview

The public houses and bars sector has a <Link href="/glossary/company-dissolution">0.5% dissolution rate</Link>. The average active company in this sector is 6.1 years old. Geographic concentration: 8% in LONDON.

0.5%
Dissolution rate
6.1 yrs
Avg company age

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 202 (62%)Medium: 11 (3%)Large: 115 (35%)

Government Activity

Companies in the public houses and bars sector have been awarded 27 government contracts worth £16.6M in total.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

There are 27,894 active companies classified under SIC code 56302 (Public houses and bars) in the UK, out of 35,891 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 169,093 data signals across 12 categories for active public houses and bars companies. The largest category is Governance with 87,026 signals from 6 government sources.

Research UK Companies with AI

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