𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Chancellor Rachel Reeves was accused of driving restaurants, cafes and hotels out of business after her latest tax announcement caused fury. The Chancellor set out a package of support for pubs and music venues, to help them cope with soaring business rates. But the help will only be temporary – while other hospitality businesses get nothing.

Conservatives welcomed the extra support for pubs but said it didn’t go far enough. Shadow Chancellor, Sir Mel Stride said: “This partial U-turn is far too little and far too late. It is a sticking plaster which delays the pain for a few, while most businesses despair as they see their bills continue to skyrocket. Our high streets need permanently lower business rates – not just for pubs, but for the shops and hospitality venues that give our high streets life.

“These tax rises are a political choice, driven by higher welfare spending, and they are destroying businesses and jobs across the country. It doesn’t have to be this way.”

And employers warned the Chancellor she must go further.

Kate Nicholls, Chair of trade body UKHospitality, said: “This emergency announcement to provide additional funding is helpful to address an acute challenge facing pubs.

“The reality remains that we still have restaurants and hotels facing severe challenges from successive Budgets. They need to see substantive solutions that genuinely reduce their costs.

“Without that clear action, they will face increasingly tough decisions on business viability, jobs and prices for consumers. Those are costs borne by us all, and I hope the Government delivers on its promise to support the whole hospitality sector.”

Pubs and music venues will get 15% off their business rates bills from April as part of a major support package, the Treasury has announced.

It comes after warnings from the sector that changes from November’s autumn budget would lead to mass closures and job losses.

However, other hospitality businesses such as hotels, restaurants and cafes will not receive additional support despite their own concerns over soaring tax bills.

Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson said the property tax bills for pubs and music venues in England will be reduced by 15% in 2026/27 and then be “frozen in real terms” for the next two years.

He added that the support will be worth £1,650 for the average pub next year.

Mr Tomlinson said: “This decision will mean that the amount of business rates paid by the pub sector as a whole will be lower in 2028/29.

“It will also apply to music venues too. Many are valued as pubs and it would not be right to draw the line.”

The Treasury’s intervention comes after an intensifying backlash from industry bosses and MPs over impending tax increases.

This has also seen dozens of Labour MPs, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, barred by pub landlords in response to November’s autumn budget.

In the budget, the Treasury announced changes to business rates which introduced a lower multiplier used to calculate the commercial property tax.

However, this was more than offset by the removal of a Covid-era 40% discount to business rates bills for hospitality, leisure and retail businesses, as well as new property valuations.

The Chancellor introduced transitional relief to manage increases to rates bills over the next three years after the removal of sector discounts.

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) had warned that pub business rates bills would still increase by an average of 15%, or £1,400, in April without an intervention.

They said this would have led to an average rise of 76%, or £7,000, by the 2028/29 financial year.

Business rates are devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said: “We are pleased the Government has listened to our concerns, and those of publicans, consumers and MPs who rallied to defend our locals.

“This pub-specific package will stave off the immediate financial threat posed by accelerating business costs and will help keep the doors open for many.”