A new survey has highlighted the devastating impact of pub closures on communities and isolated individuals. The Open Arms report was commissioned by The Campaign to End Loneliness and part of a collaboration between Heineken and Loughborough University. Some 86% of survey respondents said when a pub closes the local community suffers. Just over two third (64%) said their local was one of the main places that people living in their area can socialise. Conversations between regulars and staff in pubs had a significant impact on alleviating feelings of isolation, the report found. Pub staff posses a "range of soft skills relating to customer service and communication," the report said.