Are There More Bars in Spain Than Pubs in the UK? A Lifestyle Guide for Moving Between Spain and Britain

If you are planning removals to Spain, or you are arranging removals from Spain to the UK, the difference between Spanish bar culture and British pub culture is one of those small lifestyle details that quickly becomes part of everyday life.

On paper, the question sounds simple: does Spain have more bars than the UK has pubs? In reality, the answer needs a bit of care. Spain does not have the same “pub” tradition as Britain. The UK pub is a very specific institution: part bar, part community room, part restaurant, part local meeting place. Spain’s equivalent social life is spread across bars, cafés, terrazas, tapas bars, cervecerías, tabernas and neighbourhood restaurants.

Even with that caveat, the broad answer is yes: Spain appears to have far more bar-style social venues than the UK has pubs and bars. CaixaBank Research, using INE business data, reported that Spain had around 264,000 restaurant-sector establishments in 2023, with bars and cafés making up 62% of that total. That implies roughly 163,680 bars and cafés. In the UK, ONS/NOMIS data used in a UK Government impact assessment listed 30,180 public houses and bars in 2023, plus 31,135 licensed restaurants and 26,990 unlicensed restaurants and cafés. So even if we compare Spain’s bars and cafés with a wider UK group of pubs, bars, restaurants and cafés, Spain still looks unusually dense in everyday social venues.

For people moving to Spain from the UK, this helps explain why the local bar often becomes part of daily life, not just weekend nightlife. For people moving back to the UK from Spain, it explains why the British pub can feel more formal, more regulated and more tied to specific drinking customs than the more fluid bar culture many people experience in Spain.

The short answer: Spain has more bar-style venues, but they are not exactly “pubs”

The most accurate way to frame the comparison is this:

Spain has far more bars, cafés and similar social drinking venues than the UK has pubs and bars, but Spain does not have a direct equivalent of the British pub in every town or neighbourhood.

That distinction matters. A British pub is usually a licensed premises built around alcoholic drinks, food, socialising and often a strong local identity. A Spanish bar may serve coffee in the morning, a menú del día at lunch, cañas and tapas in the evening, and football on television at night. The same venue can function differently across the day.

In Spain, going to a bar is not necessarily a “night out”. It can be breakfast, a quick coffee, a small beer, a snack after work, a family stop, a tapas route with friends or a late evening drink. In the UK, the pub is also social and flexible, but it is more strongly associated with alcohol, meals, rounds, Sunday lunch, beer gardens and evening drinking.

Spain vs UK: headline venue numbers

The figures below are not a perfect like-for-like comparison, because each country classifies hospitality venues differently. They are still useful for understanding the scale of the difference.

Country	Venue type measured	Latest year used	Approximate count	What it tells us
Spain	Bars and cafés within the restaurant sector	2023	About 163,680	Spain has a very large network of everyday bar and café-style venues.
UK	Public houses and bars	2023	30,180	The UK pub and bar category is much smaller than Spain’s bar and café category.
UK	Public houses and bars, licensed restaurants, unlicensed restaurants and cafés	2023	88,305	Even with restaurants and cafés included, the UK total is still well below Spain’s bar and café figure.

Source note: Spain figure calculated from CaixaBank Research / INE data showing around 264,000 restaurant-sector establishments, with bars and cafés accounting for 62%. UK figures from ONS/NOMIS data reproduced in a UK Government impact assessment.

Why Spain feels so full of bars

Anyone who has spent time in Spain will recognise the pattern. In many Spanish towns, the bar is not a luxury venue. It is part of the street. You may see one on the corner, another beside the bakery, one near the market, one beside the bus stop and several around the main square.

That is partly because Spanish bar culture covers more daily occasions than British pub culture. A Spanish bar may be busy with older locals drinking coffee at 9am, workers having lunch at 2pm, families stopping for ice cream or soft drinks in the early evening, and friends meeting for tapas later on.

This is one of the lifestyle differences British people often notice after moving to Spain. The bar is not always about heavy drinking. In many areas, it is about being visible in the community. People sit outside, chat, watch the world go by, order something small and move on. The terrace is often as important as the inside of the venue.

That makes Spanish bar culture especially attractive for many UK expats and retirees. It can feel more open, more informal and more connected to outdoor life. In warmer regions such as Andalucía, Murcia, Valencia, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands, the outdoor bar or terrace is part of the rhythm of local life.

Why the British pub is different

The British pub is more than a place to buy a drink. It has its own rules, traditions and expectations. Some are written into licensing law, while others are unwritten social rules.

In the UK, pubs often act as local landmarks. They may host quiz nights, Sunday roasts, football matches, live music, charity events, darts, pool, Christmas meals or family lunches. Many also serve as informal community centres, especially in villages and smaller towns.

However, British pub culture is usually more structured than Spanish bar culture. You normally order at the bar. You wait your turn. You may buy drinks in rounds. You are expected to understand the invisible queue. Staff are also stricter about age checks, intoxication and smoking rules.

For someone moving from Spain to the UK, this can feel surprisingly formal. A British pub might look relaxed, but the etiquette can be quite strict. For someone moving from the UK to Spain, the Spanish bar can feel chaotic at first, but it also has its own logic once you understand the pace.

Regional differences: where are pubs and bars most common?

The UK’s regional pub pattern is interesting because it does not simply follow population size. According to House of Commons Library analysis using ONS data, the South West had the highest number of pubs and bars per head in 2020, with 75 pubs per 100,000 people. London had the lowest figure, with 40 pubs per 100,000 people, despite its famous pub culture.

UK region or country	Pubs and bars in 2020	Pubs and bars per 100,000 people
South East	5,250	57
North West	4,490	61
South West	4,205	75
Yorkshire and the Humber	3,725	68
London	3,590	40
East of England	3,490	56
West Midlands	3,485	59
East Midlands	3,185	66
Scotland	2,795	51
Wales	2,195	70
North East	1,700	64
Northern Ireland	770	41

Source note: House of Commons Library, using ONS/NOMIS business count data.

Spain’s regional picture works differently. CaixaBank Research notes that Andalucía, Catalonia, the Valencian Community and Madrid account for almost 60% of Spain’s restaurant-sector establishments. That makes sense: they are large, economically active and, in many cases, strongly linked to tourism.

But density is not only about total numbers. The Balearic Islands and Canary Islands stand out because tourism increases the number of bars, cafés and restaurants relative to the resident population. Madrid is dense in urban terms, while northern regions such as Galicia and Asturias have strong local food and drink cultures that can make towns feel very well supplied with bars.

Spanish region type	Examples	Typical bar culture
Large population and tourism regions	Andalucía, Catalonia, Valencian Community, Madrid	High absolute number of bars, cafés and restaurants.
Island regions	Balearic Islands, Canary Islands	Very strong hospitality density due to tourism and outdoor lifestyle.
Northern gastronomy regions	Galicia, Asturias, Basque Country, Cantabria	Strong food-led bar culture, often with local specialities and traditional taverns.
Inland and lower-density regions	Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Extremadura, Aragón	Bars may be more concentrated around town centres and village squares.

What this means if you are moving to Spain from the UK

If you are planning UK to Spain removals, this difference is worth understanding before you arrive. You are not just moving furniture, boxes and paperwork. You are moving into a different daily rhythm.

In Spain, social life often happens outside the home. Meeting for a quick coffee can turn into a small beer, a tapa, a walk to another bar, or a long conversation on a terrace. People may eat later, stay out later and use public spaces more casually than many British newcomers are used to.

This can be a major lifestyle benefit. Many people moving to Spain from the UK are attracted by the climate, the slower pace, the outdoor life and the fact that local socialising does not always need to be expensive or formal. A small drink and a tapa can be enough to feel part of the street.

However, it can also take some adjustment. Service may be slower. The bill may not arrive until you ask for it. People may stand at the bar rather than wait for table service. In some places, you pay at the end; in others, you pay as you order. Terrace prices may be higher than bar prices. None of this is necessarily bad service. It is simply a different system.

What this means if you are moving from Spain to the UK

If you are arranging removals from Spain to the UK, the British pub may feel familiar in one way and very different in another. Like Spanish bars, pubs are social venues. But the atmosphere, etiquette and legal framework are different.

You may find that pubs are more meal-focused than expected. Many British pubs now rely heavily on food, especially Sunday roasts, family meals and midweek offers. In rural areas, the pub may still be the centre of the village. In cities, pubs may be mixed with cocktail bars, craft beer venues, sports bars and chain restaurants.

The biggest adjustment is usually the ordering system. In most pubs, you go to the bar to order. There may not be a visible queue, but people know who arrived first. Pushing in, waving money, clicking fingers or shouting for attention is considered rude.

Rounds are another key difference. If a group is buying rounds, each person is expected to take a turn. You do not always have to join a round, especially if you are only staying for one drink, but if you do join, you should not disappear when your turn comes.

Things not to do in Spanish bars

Spanish bars are relaxed, but that does not mean there are no rules. Many mistakes come from treating Spain like either Britain or a tourist resort.

• Do not expect every bar to work like a restaurant. In many places, especially tapas bars, ordering at the bar is normal.
• Do not assume terrace prices are the same as bar prices. Sitting outside can cost more, especially in tourist areas or city centres.
• Do not over-tip automatically. Leaving small change is appreciated, but large routine tipping is not expected in the same way as in some countries.
• Do not rush the service. Spanish bar culture is often slower and more social. Asking politely is fine; acting impatient rarely helps.
• Do not assume free tapas are universal. Some cities and regions are famous for them, but the custom varies a lot.
• Do not treat every bar as a late-night drinking venue. Many bars are also breakfast spots, lunch places and family-friendly local venues.
• Do not ignore local alcohol rules. Spain’s legal drinking age is 18, and local rules on public drinking can be strict, especially in tourist cities.
• Do not assume everyone drinks sangria. Locals may be more likely to order a caña, wine, vermouth, tinto de verano or a regional drink.

Things not to do in UK pubs

British pubs also have rules that are not always obvious to newcomers.

• Do not jump the invisible queue. Even where there is no line, people usually know who has been waiting longest.
• Do not wave money or shout at bar staff. Eye contact and patience are usually the correct approach.
• Do not join a round unless you are prepared to buy one. Rounds are a strong part of British pub etiquette.
• Do not forget ID if you look young. Challenge 25 policies are common in licensed premises.
• Do not smoke indoors. Smoking is banned in enclosed public places and workplaces across the UK.
• Do not buy alcohol for someone who is drunk. UK licensing law is strict about serving drunk customers.
• Do not assume children’s alcohol rules are simple. The rules around 16 and 17-year-olds drinking beer, wine or cider with a meal are limited and do not apply in the same way everywhere in the UK.
• Do not bring your own food unless the pub allows it. Some pubs may tolerate it in special circumstances, but it is not the normal expectation.

Cost and lifestyle: are Spanish bars cheaper than UK pubs?

In many areas, Spanish bars can feel cheaper than UK pubs, especially for simple drinks such as coffee, small beers or house wine. But the comparison depends heavily on location.

A local bar in a Spanish village or working neighbourhood may be much cheaper than a pub in southern England. A terrace bar in central Barcelona, Madrid, Marbella, Palma or Ibiza may not feel cheap at all. Likewise, a rural British pub may be better value than a city-centre venue in London or Manchester.

The more important difference is not always the price of one drink. It is the way people use the venue. In Spain, it is common to have a smaller drink, sit outside, share small plates or move between bars. In the UK, a pub visit may involve pints, a meal, rounds or staying in one place for longer.

Which culture is better?

There is no simple winner. Spain’s bar culture is excellent for outdoor living, casual socialising and making public life feel lively. The UK pub is excellent for atmosphere, tradition, winter comfort, Sunday meals, real ale, community events and the feeling of having a “local”.

For people moving to Spain, the bar can become part of daily life surprisingly quickly. For people moving back to the UK, the pub can feel more familiar, more structured and more seasonal. Both cultures matter because they help people settle. When you move country, it is not only the house, job, school or paperwork that shapes your experience. It is also where you go for a coffee, where you meet neighbours and where you start to feel less like a visitor.

Final answer: Does Spain have more bars than the UK has pubs?

Yes, on the broad lifestyle comparison, Spain has far more bar-style venues than the UK has pubs and bars. The best available figures suggest Spain has around 160,000-plus bars and cafés, compared with around 30,000 public houses and bars in the UK.

But the comparison should not be reduced to “Spain has more pubs”. Spain does not really have pubs in the British sense. It has a wider, more everyday bar and café culture. The UK has a smaller but very distinctive pub culture.

For anyone planning removals to Spain, that means you are moving into a culture where the local bar may become part of your normal daily routine. For anyone planning removals from Spain to the UK, it means the British pub may take over some of that social role, but with different customs, stricter etiquette and a more recognisably British structure.

FAQ

Does Spain have more bars than the UK has pubs?

Yes. The best available comparison suggests Spain has far more bars and cafés than the UK has public houses and bars. Spain’s bar and café culture is broader than the British pub category, so the comparison is not perfectly like-for-like.

Does Spain have British-style pubs?

Yes, but mostly in tourist areas, expat areas and larger cities. They are not the same as the traditional British pub network found across the UK.

Why are there so many bars in Spain?

Spanish bars serve many daily purposes. They are used for coffee, breakfast, lunch, tapas, evening drinks, football, family stops and socialising. They are often part of everyday neighbourhood life rather than only nightlife.

Which UK region has the most pubs per person?

According to House of Commons Library analysis using ONS data, the South West had the highest number of pubs and bars per head in 2020, with 75 per 100,000 people.

Is London the UK’s pub capital?

London has many famous pubs and a large total number of venues, but per head it had the lowest pub and bar density in the 2020 regional data used by the House of Commons Library.

Which parts of Spain have the strongest bar culture?

Andalucía, Catalonia, the Valencian Community and Madrid have very large numbers of hospitality venues. The Balearic Islands and Canary Islands also feel very bar-dense because of tourism and outdoor living. Northern regions such as Galicia, Asturias and the Basque Country have strong food-led bar traditions.

Do you tip in Spanish bars?

Usually only lightly. Leaving small change is common, especially for good service, but large automatic tipping is not normally expected for a simple drink at the bar.

What is the biggest mistake British people make in Spanish bars?

The biggest mistake is expecting Spanish bars to work like British pubs or formal restaurants. Service, payment, tapas, terrace prices and pace can all work differently.

What is the biggest mistake Spanish people make in UK pubs?

The biggest mistake is not understanding the invisible queue at the bar, or joining a round without realising that everyone is expected to take a turn buying drinks.

Is Spanish bar culture cheaper than British pub culture?

Often, yes, especially in local neighbourhood bars. But prices vary widely. Tourist areas in Spain can be expensive, and some UK pubs outside major cities can still be good value.