Overview
- Pub is the Hub and allied trade bodies wrote to Chancellor Rachel Reeves accusing her of breaking a pledge to overhaul business rates and warning of "eyewatering" tax rises for community pubs.
- The coalition urges the government to retain the hospitality business-rates discount, arguing pubs face increases many times larger than the roughly 7% average for large warehouses.
- Signatories include the British Beer and Pub Association, UK Hospitality, the Society of Independent Brewers & Associates, the Independent Family Brewers of Britain, Hospitality Ulster, and the British Institute of Innkeeping.
- The Treasury defends the Autumn Budget, citing a £4.3bn support package it says cuts next year's increase in pubs' total bills from a projected 45% to about 4%.
- Tax firm Ryan’s analysis indicates the average pub’s rateable value is set to rise by about 30% from April, reinforcing industry warnings over higher bills.