Andy Burnham’s pub appearance mistaken for a wake as PM issued warning | Politics | News
PM Andy Burnham visited The Hare, Harlow, to announce a cut to business rates for pubs (Image: Getty)
Punters in a quiet Essex pub were in disbelief after what they thought was a wake turned out to be Andy Burnham and his entourage. Locals at The Hare, Harlow, spoke of their shock when the new Prime Minister arrived in the pub and began pouring pints as he announced a cut to business rates.
Surprised regular Pat Cleary, 59, said he was “completely oblivious” to Mr Burnham’s appearance. “They have a lot of wakes so when I walked in and saw a lot of people wearing suits and so forth, I just thought it was another wake,” he told The Express. “As I was entering, a couple I now know were security were going into the snug bar. It’s only because when I saw them actually behind the bar I said to the barmaids, ‘Oh, is that head office?’
Andy Burnham hands Chancellor John Healey a pint as he has a go behind the bar at The Hare in Harlow (Image: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street)
“And they said, ‘No, the Prime Minister’s in’. Like no, stop it, behave! It was a surprise they picked Harlow but no, I’ve met the PM!”
Mr Burnham spent time shaking hands and speaking with locals, with one staff member describing Mr Burnham as “genuine and nice”.
Pat Cleary, 59, said he was shocked to see the PM in his local pub (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
The £100-million-a-year move is expected to save a typical pub around £1,100 annually.
Mr Burnham said pubs “need to know that the cavalry is coming” as he promised to provide more support to watering holes which have been clobbered by increased overheads since Labour returned to power in 2024, such as a rise in employers’ National Insurance contributions.
Around two British pubs closed each day in the first quarter of 2026.
While publicans have welcomed the business rate relief, hospitality leaders have told Mr Burnham to go further.
JD Wetherspoon boss Sir Tim Martin described it as “a small move in the right direction” but urged the PM to slash VAT.
Chef and TV presenter Tom Kerridge has been leading a #VATsTheProblem campaign urging the Government to reduce the tax from 20% to 10% in line with Europe — a call previously backed by Mr Burnham.
The Hare in Harlow, Essex (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
A recent survey by industry bodies UKHospitality, the British Beer and Pub Association, the British Institute of Innkeeping and Hospitality Ulster, found one in six hospitality businesses say they could close within the next 12 months under mounting cost pressures.
The majority of those surveyed said reducing VAT would be the best way to support the sector, with 89% backing a cut.
Allen Simpson, chief executive of UKHospitality, welcomed the business rates discount but said it needs to be extended across the industry.
“After years of rising costs and tax increases that have hit investment and employment, the industry now needs a meaningful, sector-wide solution,” he said.
Landlords in Harlow also approved of the change but said more help is needed.
George Reynolds, landlord of The Crown and chair of Harlow Pubwatch group, said: “It’ll put some more money in my pocket and I’m happy with that, so it’s good but it’s a relief as opposed to a solution.”
The 62-year-old former accountant said ex-PM Sir Keir Starmer “didn’t do anything” for pubs and recent years had been “worse” than the COVID-era for the industry.
Landlord of The Phoenix, 55-year-old Andrew Christie, said the Government had “done enough” on business rates but further support was required, citing the rising cost of beer as one issue.
Landlord George Reynolds described the cut as ‘a relief as opposed to a solution’ (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
Another landlord warned the cut “won’t even touch the sides”.
The Government expects almost 32,000 venues to benefit from the discount.
It said the move will be “fully funded, including through reviewing reliefs for businesses that do not make a positive contribution to local communities, such as vape shops”.
It comes on top of a 15% cut announced in January after backlash from industry leaders over former Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ plans to end pandemic-era reliefs and implement a business rates revaluation that threatened to send costs soaring.
The relief was Mr Burnham’s third policy announcement since entering Number 10 this week after unveiling plans to remove VAT from electricity bills and reinstate a £2 cap on single bus fares across England.
The Conservatives welcomed the move but said “once again this Government has been found wanting on both the detail and funding for this policy”.
