𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Business rates will be cut by 20% for pubs, clubs and live music venues across England from April next year, Downing Street has announced.

The discount will apply to nearly 32,000 hospitality businesses and is expected to save a typical pub some £1,100 annually, but will not be available to the very largest live music venues.

The overhaul of business rates will be funded through a review of reliefs for businesses that “do not make a positive contribution to local communities” such as vape shops and a crackdown on online marketplaces that do not comply with tax obligations, No 10 said.

It is part of a bid by new PM Andy Burnham to cut costs for the public and communities, which has seen him announce plans to remove VAT from electricity bills and reinstate a £2 cap on single bus fares across England.