Pub rates U-turn welcome – but hospitality sector deserves more help

Local MP, Andrew George has welcomed the apparent government U-turn on the revaluation of pubs. This revaluation would see many pubs threatened with closure, due to business rates increasing by 2 or 3 times in some cases.

Mr George complained to Business Secretary (Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP) last December on behalf of the many publicans and hospitality businesses affected, and has planned further action and meetings with proprietors later this month.

Andrew said: “Ministers claimed their revaluation simply reflected what they described as ‘post-Covid recovery’. But I don’t think they fully understood the extent or the impact of what they asked the Valuation Office to do. Many publicans and hospitality business proprietors warned they could not see a way forward if this went ahead. After being hammered with the ‘jobs tax’ last year, this would have placed many in a last chance saloon.

“The Liberal Democrats recognised the present risks to this sector and proposed a 5% VAT cut in their costed alternative Budget last year.

“Though the U-turn sounds encouraging, I will still press ministers to look again at the pressures faced by this sector and to make sure they get the balance right.”