BBPA calls for fairer business rates ahead of local elections
This comes as more than 800 pubs closed their doors in the past two years as the average pub today pays five times more in business rates than the average for other sectors when looking at business rates as a percentage of turnover, with bills of almost £15,000, according to BBPA.
BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “Pubs are the beating heart of communities up and down the country but many of them are at serious risk of closing permanently due to increased costs, rising overheads and customers who have fewer pence in their back pocket.”
Save pubs from closure
With rates collected by local authorities, the BBPA stated one of the biggest ways councillors could help save pubs from closure would be to call for fairer business rates to help lessen the financial burden pubs face, with pubs contributing £26.2billion to local economies across the UK each year.
Despite more than 800 pubs having been forced to close during the pandemic, where they were able to remain open, a recent study by KAM Media and the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) suggested 37% of people found their local pub became even more important to their community during this time.
The BBPA’s call follows the launch of the Scottish Beer & Pub Association’s (SBPA) local elections manifesto, which made Scotland-specific recommendations on a road to recovery after the pandemic, including the appointment of Night Czars in Edinburgh and Glasgow, like the roles of Sacha Lord in Manchester and Amy Lamé in London.
Time to reflect
In addition, the BBPA have also called for local election candidates to support a cut to beer duty and reduced VAT rates for hospitality.
McClarkin added: “The upcoming local elections are a time to reflect on what’s important to us in our neighbourhoods.
“That’s why we are urging candidates to get behind their local pubs by supporting our call for fairer business rates, so they can continue to be a place where communities come together and thrive.”
