Welsh landlords urged to sign petition calling for Sky to reduce pub prices

01-May-2012 - Last updated on 02-May-2012 at 06:21 GMT

Related tags Business rate relief Wales Sky

Drop your prices: Llyr Gruffydd believes Welsh pubs are getting a raw deal from Sky

Licensees in Wales are being urged to sign a petition by a Welsh Assembly member, who is calling on Sky to reduce its prices for pubs to more accurately reflect the business rate relief enjoyed by Welsh pubs.

Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru’s Assembly member for North Wales, started the petition after asking licensees what their main business issues were.

Robert Gaze, licensee of the Prince Madoc pub in Colwyn Bay, told Gruffydd he is struggling to break even as he has to pay Sky £814 per month, on top of his other bills.

“The issue with Sky is that we are being charged on the rateable value of the pub, not on what we actually pay,” said Gaze. “The rateable value is £13,500 but the actual rate we pay is £6,500.”

Gruffydd, pictured, said: “I was flabbergasted that the rates they [pubs] were paying were so high. I want Sky to change its pricing policy for Wales. Many pubs and clubs in Wales currently receive business rate relief from the Welsh Government because times are tough and we want that reduction in rates reflected in what Sky charges.”

A spokeswoman for Sky said: “Tens of thousands of pubs and clubs invest in live sport because it’s good for business.

“By investing in high-quality live sport, Sky can help pubs attract customers. As a result, we ask that pubs pay a price that reflects the value of Sky to their individual businesses.

“That said, we recognise many of our customers are facing difficult times and we’ve frozen our underlying subscription prices several times over recent years.”

Any pubs that want to back the petition can contact yyle.tehsslqq@jnyrf.tbi.hx or call 01978 365512 for further information.