I disagree that it's the no smoking ban because as was said, pubs have been closing down for the last few years. I was in London Road on sat watching the match and then in the Liverpool, James st yesterday afternoon - all were chocker. I think the city centre will continue to thrive, particularly at weekends and especially with tourists (not just overseas) but locals tend to be closing down. Having taken quite a few pub photos lately, i'm not surprised though at some of them closing, you can get as many as 5 or 6 in one small area and surely they can't all be sustained, some have had a history of closing and re-opening (the green man, the crown (kirkdale rd), The Cunard - and many more change hands frequently.