In a detailed letter sent ahead of the Government’s expected announcement on business rates support today (27 January), Perfect said the national debate risked overlooking “the essence of the pub and the service these institutions deliver”.
Beyond serving alcohol
He described pubs as “welcoming community sanctuaries where friendships are forged, stories are shared, milestones are celebrated and traditions are preserved”, arguing that their modern role extends far beyond selling alcohol.
“The irony,” he wrote, “is that it has been the evolution of non-alcoholic drinks along with all day dining, coffee, soft drinks, rooms and so much more playing such a pivotal role in aiding recent growth.”
Perfect said pubs had become essential social infrastructure at a time of rising loneliness and shrinking public spaces.
“For many, the local pub serves as a lifeline,” he wrote. “The positive impact upon public mental wellbeing cannot be overstated.”
He warned that closures risked weakening grassroots sport, local charities and community organisations that rely on pubs as hubs for fundraising, meetings and sponsorship.
‘Eroding margins’
Without pubs, he said, “we risk leaving a generation underprepared for the demands of the working world”, describing pubs as “informal academies” where young people gain early experience in teamwork, communication and responsibility.
Perfect also stressed pubs’ role in sustaining local economies, citing the extensive supply chain of trades and producers that depend on the sector.
“Every pint served, meal prepared or cup of coffee poured underpins our local grass roots economies,” he wrote. Perfect criticised rising taxation and regulatory burdens, saying they were “strangling investment opportunity within hospitality” and eroding margins.
Calling for a “holistic and fair” approach to business rates and regulation, he urged Reeves to recognise pubs as “cornerstone businesses” whose preservation is “essential, not only for economic stability, but for the social, cultural and emotional wellbeing of our nation”.
The intervention comes as the sector awaits details of a pub specific support package worth around £100m a year, following warnings of steep rate rises and mass closures under the new rating list.
