New figures show that the UK has lost seven pubs for every new vape store that has opened in the latest illusteration of the decline of the nation’s High Streets.

Nearly 1,800 pubs and bars have closed in the past decade, while 245 vape shops have opened across Britain, analysis by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has found.

Vape shops can be unsightly, harbour criminality and reduce ‘a sense of community’ but they now have the added danger of being a ‘powder keg’ that could spark deadly fires due to their volatile lithium batteries – highlighted by the devastating fire in Glasgow this month.

There are now more than 2,200 vape shops in the UK.

But the spread of vape shops and the closure of pubs is not equal across Britain.

MPs in Westminster now have 35 more pubs and bars to choose from since 2015 as well as ten more vape shops.

Those in Oldham, however, have lost 30 pubs in the last decade and now have ten more vape shops.

Shoppers in Oldham told the Daily Mail that their high streets have become littered with empty shops and abandoned pubs.

Robert Dunn, 76, a retired TV manufacturer said that it was ‘sad’ to see his high street empty 

The former Royal Oak pub on Union St., Oldham, has now closed along with 1,800 pubs in the past decade

Many said the once thriving town has had its community spirit destroyed by discount stores and vape shops. 

Jill Kirk, 57, an admin assistant, was celebrating St Patrick’s Day at The Town Hall Tavern.

She said: ‘Oldham has gone. It’s lost its identity.

‘It’s just full of dodgy-looking food shops, mobile phone repair shops and barbers.

‘And there seems to be a vape shop on every corner.

‘There’s always rumours that most of the vapes they sell are from under the counter.

‘The police seized a load of illegal vapes last year.

‘It was better years back when you could walk through the centre and you’d know most people.

Sally Irwin,53, said that pubs she knew were closed down to be replaced by mobile phone repair and vape shops

Ms Irwin added that the outdoor market in Oldham used to be busy – it too has now closed

All of the commercial properties in Hilton Arcade now closed, with many residents complaining that ‘dodgy’ shops have replaced them 

‘That’s no longer the case.’

Another local, Robert Dunn, 76, a retired TV manufacturer, said: ‘This place used to be heaving with people. Now look at it.

‘There’s no jobs in the town now. And if there’s no jobs, there’s less money around.

‘The pub used to central to the community but a lot have closed because no one goes to them.

‘People my age are more likely to go to the pub and we are all dying off so there’s no one replacing us.

‘It’s sad to see all these shops empty.’

As well as a sharp rise in the number of vape shops, there has also been a 22 per cent rise in the number of barbers, nail salons and other beauty outlets since 2015, rising to 91 per cent when compared to 2010.

And given that many vape shops notoriously operate illegally and that there are an estimated three million unregistered businesses – the number of ‘dodgy shops’ is likely far higher.

There are now 245 new vape shops across Britain, taking the total to more than 2,200

Vape shops can be unsightly, harbour criminality and reduce ‘a sense of community’ but they now have the added danger of being a ‘powder keg’ that could spark deadly fires due to their volatile lithium batteries – highlighted by the devastating fire in Glasgow this month

Now almost 70 per cent of Britons believe there are too many vape shops on high streets while 58 per cent thought that there were too many barber shops, according to Ipsos polling. 

The CSJ has urged Labour to tackle the scourge of dodgy shops across Britain’s high streets, which are ‘doing irreparable harm to the social fabric’. 

In 2015, Oldham had no vape shops and 165 pubs. It now has ten vape shops and only 135 pubs. 

Sally Irwin, 53, from Oldham, told the Daily Mail: ‘There’s nothing to come into the town centre for now.

‘It’s all mobile phones and vape shops.

‘The outdoor market used to be buzzing and busy all the time.

‘You’d go to the same stalls and get to know the stallholders.

‘The market is shut now which is so sad.

Nearly 1,800 pubs and bars have closed in the past decade, such as the Royal Oak pub in Oldham

In January Rachel Reeves announced a £300m package to support pubs against rising business rates after a widespread backlash to her Budget announcement saw Labour MPs banned from pubs across the country

She added: ‘Most of the pubs have shut and I think there are too many vape shops now. 

‘I’m also concerned about the safety of the vapes.

‘Are the vapes being sold even legal?

‘If they aren’t legal, there could be both health and safety issues. They have been known to explode.

‘The town is only going to get worse.’ 

Peter Ralph, 62, said: ‘The high street has changed beyond recognition in recent years.

‘But it has not changed for the better.

‘The traditional shops have gone to be replaced with cheap ones.

‘But it is the same with all towns similar to Oldham.

Towns in Greater Manchester, more than anywhere else in Britain, have had their high streets transform from community orientated hubs to rows of vacant units and dodgy vape shops, the data shows

The CSJ has urged Labour to tackle the scourge of dodgy shops across Britain’s high streets that are ‘doing irreparable harm to the social fabric’

‘The pubs have been boarded up or changed into HMOs for migrants, which doesn’t offer a welcoming feel.’

Towns in Greater Manchester, more than anywhere else in Britain, have had their high streets transform from community orientated hubs to rows of vacant units and dodgy vape shops, data shows. 

Ten vape shops opened in Salford in the past ten years while 25 pubs closed their doors. 

In Bolton, ten vape shops have registered since 2015, while five pubs have closed down. 

The number of vape shops doubled in Rochdale in the past ten years while its high streets lost 35 pubs. 

Josh Nicholson, head of housing and communities at the CSJ, said: ‘There was a significant increase of vape shops in areas that are associated with low income, poverty and disadvantage. Because often those areas are cheap to set up in.’

The top hotspots for new vape shops in Britain were: Mansfield, Bolton, Salford, Stockport, Oldham, Westminster, Belfast, Swansea and Swindon.   

Mr Nicholson added: ‘What we can see from a lot of the polling is that the public think that there are too many vape shops, barbers, nail salons, these sort of cash-only enterprises

‘This isn’t just an effect of market demand. What we’ve witnessed is a sort of explosion of organised criminals operating out of these shops.

In 2015, Oldham had no vape shops and 165 pubs. It now has ten vape shops and only 135 pubs

Since 2010, Britain has lost 6,900 pubs and bars while there are now 25,000 more barbers, nail salons and other beauty outlets

‘What that does to the sense of community is that it adds to this zero sum game.’  

He added: ‘People see these criminals operate out at the heart of their communities and thinking, hang on a second, I’m working hard. I’m paying my taxes. And yet I can clearly see that people are selling these dodgy fags, dodgy vapes and running all kinds of suspicious enterprise. Everyone knows what’s going on. And it kills that sense of community because it causes people to retreat back into their homes.’

And while dangerous, and sometimes illegal, vape shops are opening up across the country, pubs are facing an ever greater squeeze from increasing costs, including Labour’s national insurance hike. 

Since 2010, Britain has lost 6,900 pubs and bars while there are now 25,000 more barbers, nail salons and other beauty outlets.  

Four hospitality businesses closed every day under Labour between October and December 2025.

In January Rachel Reeves announced a £300m package to support pubs against rising business rates after a widespread backlash to her Budget announcement saw Labour MPs banned from pubs across the country.

Pubs and music venues will be given a 15 per cent discount on business rates from April.

But industry groups such as HospitalityUK and business owners have warned that more cafes, restaurants and hotels will be left with no choice but to shut up shop if similar measures are not drawn up for other parts of the sector.

Allen Simpson, chief executive of UKHospitality, told the Daily Mail in January: ‘The cost challenges facing hospitality businesses continue to grow and four businesses closing a day in the last quarter of 2025 is the unfortunate reality of a sector shouldering the highest tax burden in the economy.’

A government spokesman said: ‘Pubs are the heart of our communities which is why we’re taking action to protect them.

‘We’re giving communities the power to buy local pubs at risk of closing through our Pride in Place programme which is backed by more than £5 billion, and putting money directly into local people’s hands to invest in the places they love.

‘This is alongside cutting business rates for pubs and bringing in new licensing laws for vape shops to make sure our high streets flourish.’