Pubs make an important contribution both to our culture - fostering a sense of place and community - and the UK economy.

I welcome that the Government has already taken a third of properties out of business rates completely through Small Business Rates Relief and has frozen the tax rate for the last three years at a cost of £14.5 billion. The Government has also removed downwards caps from Transitional Relief. 

I welcome the Chancellor's decision announced at Autumn Statement 2023 to freeze the Small Business Multiplier for another year and extend the Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure Relief Scheme, offering a 75 per cent discount on business rates up to £110,000. This will save the average independent pub over £12,800 in 2024-25 at a cost of £4.3 billion. 

The Government’s ‘Brexit Pubs Guarantee’ confirms that the duty on a draught pint will always be lower than its equivalent in a supermarket. The new alcohol duty system implemented in August included a new Draught Relief that provides a significant duty discount on alcohol sold in containers of 20 litres or more in the on-trade.

You may also be aware that the Chancellor has decided to freeze alcohol duty from 1 August 2024 until 1 February 2025. This extends the six-month freeze announced at Autumn Statement 2023, to support the hospitality sector and help consumers with the cost of living.

The Government is also funding a wide range of community assets, including pubs, through the Community Ownership Fund. The fund has awarded £49.3 million to 195 projects across the UK.