HK saw 120 bar closures in first half of 2025

About 120 bars in Hong Kong, representing 10 percent of the city's total, closed in the first half of last year as the industry universally faced significant pressure, according to The Hong Kong Bar and Club Association.

Chin Chun-wing, chairman of the Association, said the market was sluggish between January and June last year, with nearly 80 percent of bars having to negotiate rent reductions of 20 to 30 percent with their landlords.

Of the approximately 1,200 bars in Hong Kong, about 240 failed to secure rent reductions, with 120 of those ultimately closing down, he added.

However, Chin believes that having around 100 bars close each year is still an ideal situation, as about 70 to 80 new bars open annually.

He added that business stabilized in the second half of the year, driven by the festive peak season and international events hosted in the city.

The Association noted that the Lunar New Year is an off-season for the industry, as a large number of citizens travel abroad. 

It will partner with the production team of the Lunar New Year comedy Night King to hold promotional events, hoping to increase the industry's business turnover by 30 percent during the holiday period.