Key Asks of the Current Government to Support Hospitality Businesses
Local pubs play a crucial socio-economic role in British communities, serving as hubs for social interaction, combating isolation, and supporting local causes. A new report, presented at the The Labour Party Conference, highlights the need for immediate government action to ensure the survival of these beloved institutions. With over a million jobs supported by the beer and pub sector and generating ￡34.3 billion annually in economic value, pubs are vital to both local economies and community life. However, rising costs, regulatory challenges, and economic pressures threaten their future, necessitating strategic support from the government.
Extend Business Rates Relief:
Provide short-term support by extending business rates relief for hospitality businesses.
Increase the relief window to three years to offer long-term certainty for pub landlords.
Establish a Government Taskforce:
Create a task force to halt the decline of British pubs and develop policies for long-term sustainability.
Review Business Rates and Excise Duty:
Overhaul the current regulatory and tax landscape that hinders pub profitability.
Employment Incentives:
Introduce employment incentives to encourage pubs to continue hiring young workers.
Support Night-Time Economy through Planning Policies:
Ensure planning policies protect the role of local pubs as cultural, social, and economic anchors in towns and villages.
Cut Beer Duty and Maintain 75% Business Rates Relief:
Use the upcoming Budget to cut beer duty and sustain the 75% business rates relief to keep pubs economically viable.
These asks focus on the need to ensure the survival of pubs, which contribute over ￡34 billion to the UK economy annually, and play a vital role in community well-being by combating loneliness, supporting local causes, and bringing people together.