Tue, 27 Jan 2026

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 Pubs given support package after business rates backlash

Treasury Minister Dan Tomlinson says the three-year aid is worth £1,650 for the average pub.

* Pubs and music venues in England will receive a 15% discount on their business rates bills from April.
* The three-year package, worth £1,650 for the average pub in 2026-27, aims to mitigate major increases in business rates bills following November's Budget.
* Treasury Minister Dan Tomlinson said pubs are "the cornerstone of so many communities" and the government wants to support them after a nearly 7,000 venue decline since 2010.
* The package will cost £80m in its first year, with subsequent years valued by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).
* Business rates are devolved in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, so each nation will receive a proportional amount to decide what to do with.
* Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride dismissed the announcement as a "sticking plaster" that would only delay the pain for pubs.
* Industry leaders warn that despite the relief, business rates remain a major issue and long-term reforms are needed to support struggling businesses.
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