Open arms: Why pubs are key in the fight against loneliness 13 A new report has confirmed just how important the Great British pub is in the fight against loneliness, as brewery Heineken takes to calling vulnerable people to relieve solitude in place of sharing a pint. After almost a year of restrictions, regional and national lockdowns, and tiers, people across the UK have been affected physically, economically and mentally due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with loneliness being a huge concern across communities. The usual places to meet, socialise and connect with people have been removed. One of the key places for millions of Britons to do so in their ‘normal’ day to day life is the Great British pub. In fact, as a result of the pandemic more than 300 pubs have been permanently closed, and many more fear the same fate with no end in sight for the national lockdown.