Listed: 22 pubs Colchester has lost since World War II.
Colchester has not been immune to the national crisis affecting Britain’s pub industry, with eight pubs closing their doors permanently every week in England and Wales by the first half of 2025.
The South East has been hit the hardest, losing 31 pubs in just six months, and our historic town has had its fair share of final orders issued over the last eight decades.
Here are the Colchester pubs and bars that have permanently closed, leaving gaps in our drinking culture that many residents are still aware of today.
Colchester Yates (Image: Newsquest). 1. Yates, Head Street (Closes July 13, 2025) Yates, the most recent casualty in Colchester’s nightlife scene, had been a staple of the town’s evening entertainment for over two decades.
This Head Street establishment was more than just a pub; it was a landmark where countless nights out, celebrations, and memories were made. Its closure in July signals the end of an era in Colchester’s party scene.
Cherry Tree Pub (Image: Newsquest) 2. The Cherry Tree on Mersea Road (closed November 2024) Punters are still hoping that The Cherry Tree will reopen, but for the time being, this Mersea Road local has been shuttered since November 2024.
The closure has left regulars concerned about the future of neighbourhood pubs, especially as closed establishments are increasingly being converted into housing or retail.
The Maypole Pub (Image by Newsquest) 3. The Maypole, Berechurch Hall Road (closed 2012) The Maypole, located on Berechurch Hall Road, served the community for many years before closing in 2012.
Its closure was another setback for residential areas where pubs served as important community gathering places.
4. The Bell, Old Heath Road (closed 2009) The Bell on Old Heath Road closed its doors in 2009, marking one of the first casualties in what would become a rapidly expanding trend of pub closures throughout town.
Stockwell Arms (Image: Newsquest) 5. The Stockwell Arms, West Stockwell Street (Closed 2009).
Located at 18 West Stockwell Street, the Stockwell Arms closed the same year as The Bell, making 2009 a particularly difficult year for Colchester’s pub trade.
The closure of two establishments in one year highlighted the industry’s growing pressures.
6. The Robin Hood, Osborne Street (Closed circa 2007)
The Robin Hood at 45 Osborne Street closed in 2007, taking with it another piece of Colchester’s traditional pub culture.
Named after England’s legendary outlaw, it had become a fixture on Osborne Street for locals seeking a traditional pint. 7. The Globe, North Station Road. (Closed 2004) The Globe, located at 71 North Station Road, closed in 2004.
Its proximity to the railway station had made it a popular stop for both tourists and locals, but changing drinking habits and economic pressures eventually forced its closure. 8.
The Bugle Horn on Barrack Street (Closed 2004) The Bugle Horn at 30 Barrack Street called time in 2004, the same year as The Globe.
Located in the heart of town, its closure removed another option for those seeking a traditional pub experience in central Colchester.
9. The Churchill Arms, Barrack Street (Closed 1998)
The Churchill Arms at 18-20 Barrack Street closed in 1998, paving the way for the wave of closures that would come in the 2000s and later.
Since the Second World War, Colchester has continued to lose its crown jewels: its pubs.
Here’s a list of every pub that has closed since 1945: More than 2,280 pubs have closed permanently in England and Wales since 2020, with industry leaders calling the situation “heartbreaking.”
The British Beer and Pub Association is now calling for immediate tax reform in the upcoming autumn budget, warning that if nothing is done, the trend will only continue.
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