Legislation

Phil Dixon on the viability of pubs

OPINION

'Is a pub ever truly viable?'

By Phil Dixon, trade adviser

It was 1983. I was the Midland’s Senior Officer at the National Licensed Victuallers Association.

Salary rise: since its introduction in 2016, the national living wage rate has increased by almost 60% (image: Getty/jax10289)

A look at NLW rises since it began

By Nikkie Thatcher

In light of the latest hike in the national living wage (NLW), The Morning Advertiser has delved into its history.

Autumn Statement 2023: operators share their thoughts on the Government's fiscal plans (Credit: Getty/sturti)

Sector 'deserved better' in Autumn Statement

By Rebecca Weller

In the wake of the Autumn Statement, The Morning Advertiser spoke to operators from across the sector to get on the ground thoughts on the announcement.

Continued demand: UKH calls for VAT reduction to help boost tourism (Pictured: Kate Nicholls)

UKH calls for VAT cut to boost tourism

By Rebecca Weller

UKHospitality (UKH) has called for the Government to address the UK’s lack of competitiveness on the global tourism market, beginning with a cut to VAT for hospitality, tourism and leisure businesses.

What did Hunt say about business rates in Autumn Statement 2023

AUTUMN STATEMENT 2023

Business rates discount extended

By Rebecca Weller

On Wednesday 22 November, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced an extension to the 75% discount for business rates up to £100k for the sector as part of the Autumn Statement.

Autumn Statement 2023 (Credit: Getty/	Luis Davilla)

AUTUMN STATEMENT 2023

Hunt confirms alcohol duty freeze

By Rebecca Weller

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday 22 November Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a freeze to alcohol duty until August next year.

Time to act is now: NTIA urges Gov to support sector in Autumn Statement (Credit: Getty/andresr)

Some 20% of firms at risk of closure in early 2024

By Rebecca Weller

More than a fifth of night-time economy firms face collapsing in January 2024 without “substantial tax reductions”, the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has warned.

CAMRA calls for unlawful pub demolition to be made illegal

CAMRA: 'unlawful pub demolition should be illegal'

By Rebecca Weller

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has urged the Government to strengthen planning policy and enforcement legislation to safeguard historic venues following a parliamentary debate on the protection of heritage pubs.

Gov help: Organisations call for business rates freeze (Credit: Getty/simarik)

Business rates rise threatens future of high streets

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UKHospitality (UKH) and other trade bodies have written to the chancellor urging him to freeze the business rates multiplies and extend existing reliefs in the Autumn Statement.

Christmas come early: RMT confirms members will vote on a new deal (Credit: Getty/Monty Rakusen)

Christmas hopes pinned on rail strikes deal

By Rebecca Weller

Christmas will “come early” for hospitality businesses if RMT members vote in agreement of a new deal that could see the end of rail strikes.

Disappointing agenda: King's speech made no reference to supporting (Credit: Getty/Luis Davilla)

King's Speech start of 'disappointing agenda' for sector

By Rebecca Weller

The King’s Speech marked the start of a “disappointing agenda” for the hospitality industry at a “crucial” and “challenging time” for many firms, voices from across the sector have said.

PCA review: Gov concludes adjudicator had shown improvements (Credit: Getty/Henrik Sorensen)

PCA review divides opinion

By Rebecca Weller

Voices from the sector have clashed over the results of the review into the operation and performance of the pubs code adjudicator (PCA).

Catastrophic predicament: industry leaders react to pub closure figures (Credit: Getty/dorian2013)

Pub closure stats show 'uphill battle' faced by firms

By Rebecca Weller

The growing number of business closures in the sector demonstrate the “sheer weight” of escalating costs and the “catastrophic predicament” faced by many hospitality firms, industry leaders have said.

Stark indicator: NTIA calls on Gov to reduce VAT for sector as more than 8,000 late-night firms lost since 2020 (Credit: Getty/fotoVoyager)

43 late-night firms vanishing per week

By Rebecca Weller

More than 8,000 businesses have vanished from the late-night sector since 2020, new figures released by the Night-Time Industries association (NTIA) have revealed.

Poll: what do pubs need from the Autumn Statement? (Credit: Getty/JohnnyGreig)

POLL: what do pubs need from the Autumn Statement?

By Rebecca Weller

Ahead of next month's Autumn Statement, The Morning Advertiser wants to know what support you would find most beneficial for your business, have your say and vote now in our snap poll below.

Significant cost increases: only one in two pubs making a profit BII research has revealed

BII: 'half of pubs operating at a loss'

By Rebecca Weller

Only one in two hospitality firms are making a profit, new research from The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has revealed.

Slap in the face: operators call for Gov to support sector with implementing increase to NLW (Credit: Getty/The Good Brigade)

EXCLUSIVE

8 in 10 feel NLW hike will have significant impact

By Rebecca Weller

Operators from across the sector have urged the Government to support pubs in delivering the increase to the National Living Wage (NLW) as more than 80% feel the rise will have a significant impact on their business.

Rising rates: We take a look back at national living wage across five years (Credit: Getty/Hispanolistic)

NLW rises by 40.5% in 5 years

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The national living wage (NLW) is set to rise to “at least £11” next April, meaning it will have soared by nearly 40.5% in the past five years.

Cost and consequence: operator warns pubs will not be able to absorb proposed increase to NLW (Credit: Getty/georgeclerk)

Operator warns pubs 'can't absorb' increase to NLW

By Rebecca Weller

Pubs will not be able to “absorb” the increase to the National Living Wage (NLW) as the sector continues to face “unrivalled pressure”, one Suffolk-based operator has warned.

How can pubs target their MPs on rates campaign?

Call for pubs to step up on rates campaigning

By Ed Bedington

With many pubs struggling to break even, operators are being urged to increase pressure through their local MPs around business rates relief as the Government Autumn Statement approaches.

Late night levy: how should authorities look to support the sector regarding the LNL? (Credit: Getty/SolStock)

Late-night levy: how can local authorities support sector?

By Rebecca Weller

Since being introduced in 2011, the late-night levy (LNL) has proved controversial and has been seen by many across the sector as “unfair”. But following the changes implemented in July this year, how should authorities look to support the sector regarding...

Not telling the true story: hospitality sector reacts to inflation update (Credit/Getty: Eoneren)

Inflation rate 'not telling true story'

By Rebecca Weller

Trade bodies urge the Government to provide “targeted support” for the sector in the November budget as decline to the headline rate of inflation does not “tell the true story”.