Overview

• The British Beer and Pub Association forecasts 378 permanent closures across England, Wales and Scotland this year, putting more than 5,600 jobs at risk.
• The trade body reports that for every £3 spent at a pub, £1 goes to taxes and cites cuts to pandemic-era rates relief alongside hikes in VAT, beer duty, employer National Insurance and waste disposal costs as critical pressures.
• Greene King chief executive Nick Mackenzie is calling to replace property-based business rates with a levy on pub profits to secure an estimated £13.7 million in annual savings for reinvestment.
• Industry figures are urging the government to mitigate extended producer responsibility charges, reduce employer National Insurance contributions and cut beer duty to protect local economies and supply chains.
• Chancellor Rachel Reeves has acknowledged the need for reform but has yet to publish an interim report or enact substantive changes, raising fears of irreversible damage to the sector.