WORRYING figures show that more than 100 pubs have closed across the south of Hampshire in the last seven years.

The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics reveal that in 2010 there were 630 pubs in the region – but now only 525 of those remain.

Of the 105 to have poured their last pint for good, a third come from Southampton alone.

PHOTOS: Southampton's lost pubs - in pictures

The city, which had 140 pubs and bars in 2010, now has just 105.

The second highest number of pubs to have closed in the area is the New Forest, which has lost 30, from 145 to 115.

The figures mean that across Southampton, New Forest, Winchester, Test Valley, Eastleigh and Fareham, 16% of pubs and bars have closed for good between 2010 and 2017.

Across the UK 5,745 pubs closed over the period, and there are 54 local authorities where 30 or more shut.

Pubs have been pointing the finger of blame at the taxman for their troubles, complaining about the duty on beer, VAT levels and the cost of business rates.

Britain’s Beer Alliance, a group of organisations in the pub and brewing sector, has started a campaign called Long Live the Local with a petition and calls for people to write to their MPs to have beer duty reduced.

Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “We are calling on the government to cut beer duty in the upcoming November budget.

“Seven in ten alcoholic drinks sold in a pub are beer, so cutting beer duty is the most direct way of helping pubs.

“This is why we are backing the Long Live the Local campaign to cut beer tax.”

A spokesperson for the Treasury said: “Ninety percent of pubs across the country can benefit from the business rates relief introduced at Budget 2017, which could save them up to £1,000 a year.

“In addition, both businesses and their customers have saved around £3 billion since 2013 thanks to changes to alcohol duty.”

The latest data from the ONS shows that between 2016 and 2017, 655 pubs and bars called time for good.

In Southampton around ten disappeared, while five have vanished from the New Forest.

In September 2017, The Stile pub, near the University of Southampton, closed – the third and final pub around the Highfield area to shut following the Gate and the Crown and Sceptre pubs several years before.

The Bitterne Park Hotel also closed suddenly last year after a chequered history, before reopening with a new publican. The Mountbatten in Lordshill was also boarded up in November 2016, with no warning to patrons.

Test Valley saw half of its ten pubs that shut in the last seven years, close in just 12 months between 2016 and 2017.

Earlier this summer, The Phoenix closed down in the centre of Romsey, and was closed for weeks before reopening.

A change in consumer habits, with people drinking at home more often, has also been blamed for fewer people visiting pubs.

Ms Simmonds said that many now offered much more than just a drink.

She said: “Pubs have responded to changing drinking habits with a more diverse offering, such as coffee, live music and WiFi, creating experiences and food.

“Pubs now serve one billion meals a year and are at the forefront of modern British cooking. They also have 50,000 bedrooms.”

CAMRA, the campaign for real ale, said that pubs play a vital role in communities.

Tom Stainer, the chief communications officer, said: “In many areas and villages, they provide the last remaining public meeting space, with meeting halls and post offices already lost.

Southampton lost 35 of its 140 pubs and bars in the past seven years. It now has 105 across the city.

The New Forest saw a drop of 30, with the national park now occupied by 115 pubs compared with the 145 in 2010.

Test Valley has seen ten pubs closed in the past seven years, though five of those came between 2016 and 2017.

In Eastleigh, 15% of its pubs closed from 2010. Previously having 65 pubs and bars, there are now 55.

Winchester has seen 15 shut down, previously having 125, but now has 110.

Fareham lost five pubs in the seven years, from 55 down to 50.

Pub losses in numbers

Southampton lost 35 of its 140 pubs and bars in the past seven years. It now has 105 across the city.

The New Forest saw a drop of 30, with the national park now occupied by 115 pubs compared to the 145 in 2010.

Test Valley has seen ten pubs closed in the past seven years, though five of those came between 2016 and 2017.

In Eastleigh, fifteen percent of its pubs closed from 2010. Previously having 65 pubs and bars, there are now 55.

Winchester has seen 15 shut down, previously having 125, but now has 110.

Fareham lost five pubs in the seven years, from 55 down to 50.

Is it all doom and gloom?

It's not - across the south of the county, with communities often fighting to save their beloved watering hole.

In Horton Heath, the borough of Eastleigh saw it's first asset of community value (ACV) listing for a pub last year.

Ei publican partnerships decided to sell up, but after a 150-strong community group fought to register it as an ACV, new owners Thirstee Business, who supply drinks to around 300 pubs and clubs in the Solent area, put in a bid and have begun redeveloping it, with an opening date yet to be announced.

Campaigners in Southampton also began celebrating after controversial plans to convert The Big Cheese were thrown out.

Southampton City Council refused plans to turn the former Big Cheese pub in Bitterne Park into ten three-bedroom homes.

The Bitterne Brewery Action Group had been campaigning to keep the pub alive despite its closure in February by launching plans to have the pub owned and run by the community.

In August last year, The Wheel Inn in Pennington was saved after being taken over by a community group.

Villagers applied to a foundation that gave them a funding package to help their bid to save the pub.

In April of this year, The South Western Arms reopened its doors two months after suddenly shutting down.

Owners Ei Publican Partnerships confirmed that the publican chose to close it due to personal reasons, which prompted campaigners to start a movement to protect the pub and grant it asset of community value status, and the pub confirmed it would reopen just days later.