South Oxfordshire District Council said the discretionary relief would be automatically applied to eligible pubs that already qualify for the Government’s pub relief scheme.
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120 pubs
Businesses will not need to apply, with revised bills showing the reduced amount due to be issued over the next month.
The council said the scheme would support around 120 pubs across the district at a time when operators continue to face rising employment costs, inflation and wider trading pressures.
Councillor Maggie Filipova Rivers, leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said pubs made a “massive contribution” to life in the area but many were having to work hard to manage increasing costs.
She said: “This additional business rates relief will provide practical support, helping eligible pubs remain resilient while continuing to serve their communities.”
Filipova Rivers added: “Pubs are often at the heart of our towns and villages. They support local employment, bring people together and make our communities stronger.
“We’re pleased to be able to offer this additional support, and we’ll continue to work with the sector while calling for the long term backing that pubs need from national government.”
Rates pressure
The move comes as business rates remain a major focus for the pub and wider hospitality sector.
Earlier this month, Andy Burnham - who is expected to become Prime Minister today (20 July) - repeated a pledge to cut business rates for pubs, while sector bodies have continued to call for wider reform to ease pressure on high street and hospitality businesses.
It also follows the launch of the #VATsTheProblem campaign, spearheaded by Tom Kerridge, which is calling for hospitality VAT to be reduced to 10%.
The campaign has argued a VAT cut would help businesses survive, invest and employ, while recent industry data found one in six hospitality businesses said they were at risk of failure within the next 12 months.
South Oxfordshire District Council said it would continue to work with local businesses and partners to support a thriving hospitality sector across the district.
