Antoniazzi, MP for Gower and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group (APPBG), told The Morning Advertiser (The MA) MPs should engage directly with venues in their constituencies to understand the challenges facing operators and the wider role pubs play.
Join our new WhatsApp channel: The Morning Round-Up
Get the biggest pub trade stories straight to your phone. Listen to our one-minute daily news briefing and receive breaking news, exclusives and sector updates throughout the day. Remember to turn notifications on in the top right corner! Join the channel here.
“MPs should be going into their local pubs and listening to what the issues are and engaging on those issues,” she said.
“There are many that do, but they all should. They should have to visit at least half a dozen pubs in their constituency to get a consistent picture on how tough the landscape is.”
She added publicans were continuing to work hard to keep their businesses afloat despite facing significant financial pressures, warning the impact of pub and brewery closures on communities was “huge”.
Antoniazzi also highlighted the wider social value of pubs, arguing they provide essential community spaces beyond their role as places to drink.
Celebrate and protect
The MP also warned the UK’s vibrant brewing industry was at risk if ministers failed to listen to the financial burdens placed upon them.
“There is so much innovation in brewing, from start-ups to the big players, and we should all be learning from each other,” she said.
“But costs are through the roof. If we lose that manufacturing in the UK, and it is manufacturing, we’ll end up importing more instead. We want to celebrate and protect this industry.”
Antoniazzi further called for greater support for initiatives such as Pub is The Hub, arguing the scheme demonstrated the wider contribution pubs can make within communities.
“I would love to see if the Government can roll out Pub is the Hub into every community across the United Kingdom. It would take the focus off people that think pubs are just places for drinkers,” she told The MA.
“To roll out a scheme like that into every community in the United Kingdom would really be a boost to the industry and a boost to morale.”
The APPBG chair also called for pubs to be considered as part of future planning decisions.
“Nobody has a crystal ball on the Budget, but we can influence [Government] by having those conversations.”
Tonia Antoniazzi
“All new towns should have a pub, a doctor’s surgery, a primary school, all the services to make them attractive places for people to live,” she continued.
“If we’re talking about high street regeneration, there’s got to be pubs on the high street. There’s got to be a wide variety of things that will draw people into town centres.”
Having represented Gower since 2017, Antoniazzi said the cost of doing business remained the biggest concern raised by hospitality businesses in her constituency.
She pointed to energy bills, packaging costs and recycling requirements as notable pain points, adding the cumulative impact of rising costs was putting significant strain on pubs and breweries.
“The cost of being of just even opening the doors… they’re really struggling,” she said.
Antoniazzi also backed continued campaigning around VAT reform, notably the #VATsTheProblem campaign, and said she was encouraged by the Government’s willingness to engage with the sector.
Crystal ball
She praised the approach taken by Prime Minister Andy Burnham since entering office, describing him as someone who had connected with people and listened to industry concerns.
“He’s a really good communicator, the industry really do like him and his approach and I think they do have his ear”, Antoniazzi continued.
“He’s come in and changed the business rates. That’s great. I don’t think it goes far enough, but he’s only been doing the job a few weeks. So, let’s give the guy a break.”
She added continued dialogue between the sector and Westminster would be essential in delivering further support, while acknowledging the Government faced difficult decisions around funding.
“We can’t fix everything, so we have to work together with industry to find what the biggest differences are going to be”, she said.
“Nobody has a crystal ball on the Budget, but we can influence [Government] by having those conversations,” she said.
Antoniazzi urged pubs and breweries to continue engaging with elected representatives at every level to ensure the sector remains a key focus: “I know [publicans] are probably very time poor, but invite [MPs] in. Don’t give up and don’t take no for an answer.”
- Look at for Tonia Antoniazzi’s Big Interview with The Morning Advertiser in October.
