UK pub data: pubs by city, operator and type
UK pub data is a record of the pubs in the country with their location, who runs them and what they serve, and Dashmote tracks 28,000+ UK pubs as of October 2026. For a rep selling into the on-trade, it answers the two questions the pub sign does not: who decides, and what is already on the bar, so you see where you can win before you walk in.
Managed: pubs with an identified managed operator.
The trusted intelligence layer for teams selling to Hospitality & Retail
Who runs this pub: managed, leased or free house?
UK pubs run on three main models, and each one is a different sales job.
| Model | Who runs it | Who decides the range | What it means for a rep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managed | A manager employed by a pub group | Mostly the group | Start the conversation at the group |
| Leased or tenanted | An independent operator renting from a pub company | Shared, often with a supply tie to the pub company | Check the tie before pitching |
| Free house | The owner, with no pub company or brewer tie | The owner | A good visit can change the range that week |
The pub sign rarely tells you which one you are walking into. Many managed pubs trade under their own name with their own website. DashLeads groups pubs by the managed operator behind them, so the independent pubs get the rep visit and the managed ones get the group conversation.
Where London's managed groups cluster
In September 2026 we placed about 250 pubs from eight selected managed groups into 18 defined London areas, each backed by the operator's or the venue's own website (Who really runs your local?, 22 September 2026).
- The defined West End area holds 22% of those sites, and every group has a site there.
- Next door, Westminster, Covent Garden and Holborn holds 26%, with sites from every group but one.
- Further out, each area has its own mix of groups.
These are counts for a selected set of groups, not every London pub. For a rep, the lesson holds anywhere: map who runs the pubs on your patch before you plan the week.
Pubs by city, as of October 2026
The UK outlet database counts bars and pubs together as one outlet type; this page covers only the 28,000+ venues whose main listing category is a pub, so its count is the smaller of the two.
| City | Pubs | Run by a managed group | On a delivery app |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater London | 2,700+ | 30% | 16% |
| Greater Manchester | 1,100+ | 18% | 6% |
| West Midlands (incl. Birmingham) | 730+ | 23% | 17% |
| Glasgow City | 220+ | 20% | 14% |
| United Kingdom | 28,000+ | 15% | 7% |
A pub here is one open venue listed as a pub, counted once per venue. Restaurants and hotel bars sit in their own channels and are not included. Areas are local authority areas. 'Run by a managed group' counts pubs where we have identified a managed operator; it is not a full split of managed, tenanted and free houses. Delivery: matched to a storefront on Deliveroo, Just Eat or Uber Eats; some listings cannot be matched to a venue.
What is on the bar
Knowing the operator tells you who decides. Knowing the menu tells you what you are up against. Of the London managed pubs with a menu photo dated 2024 to 2026, the most-listed beer or cider appeared on 35% of menus and the most-listed spirit on 32% (22 September 2026).
A brand on the menu is not sales or pouring rights. It is what the guest sees, and it tells a rep whether the pitch is a switch or a new listing. DashLeads reads pub menus from photos, websites and delivery listings, with AI picking out the brands named, so each pub record shows what is on the bar before the rep walks in.
Pubs on delivery apps and the next channel
Pubs that list food on Uber Eats, Just Eat or Deliveroo show up with their delivery menus, which often name the soft drinks and beers they sell. That is a second read of the bar, and a sign of a kitchen-led pub with more volume (see food delivery insights for the delivery side).
Delivery menus also show where drinks are missing. In our UK study of vape and tobacco shops on the same apps, half listed no drinks at all (August 2026 data). The same reading, applied to pubs, shows which ones sell food without the drinks you would expect next to it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I see who owns a pub?
To see who runs a pub, check the operator named on its website, menu or premises licence; many managed pubs name their group only in the small print. Who owns the building is a separate question, answered for England and Wales by the HM Land Registry title register. DashLeads shows the operator, not the property owner.
How many pubs are there in the UK?
Dashmote tracks 28,000+ UK pubs as of October 2026, counting open venues listed as a pub (including Irish pubs and brewpubs), once per venue. Official counts differ because they count businesses or licensed premises rather than venues.
What is the difference between a managed, leased and free house pub?
A managed pub is run by a manager employed by a pub group, a leased or tenanted pub is run by an independent operator who rents it from a pub company, often with a supply tie, and a free house is run by an owner with no tie to a pub company or brewer.
Can I get a list of every pub in my area?
Yes: filter DashLeads by city, area or postcode and the pub channel and export the list to CSV or your CRM, with operator where identified, menu brands and delivery presence.
Is there a free UK pub database?
Free sources exist, including official pub counts by local area, drinkers' pub finders and community datasets, but they are counts or consumer guides rather than sales lists: no operator, no menu brands and no check that the pub still trades.
Why does it matter whether a pub is managed or independent?
It matters because the decision sits in a different place: an independent owner can change the range after one visit, while a managed pub's range is usually set by the group, so the conversation has to start there.
Related reading
For sales leaders: the business case
For on-trade teams in the UK, the operator question decides how the whole team is organised.
- Right person, right pub. Split the territory into rep pubs and group accounts before anyone sets off.
- Coverage you can report. Count the pubs that fit your brand per city and the share you supply.
- One UK view. Every city on the same definitions, with outlet records updated monthly. See pricing.