Gov unveils £10m scheme to support pubs
Independent pubs, restaurants and cafés will soon be able to apply for a share of a new £10m Government fund aimed at helping businesses open, grow and create jobs.
Legislation
‘We are overtaxed as a sector’
The MA’s Ed Bedington met up with Fuller, Smith & Turner boss Simon Emeny to get his take on the week’s news.
CAMRA POTY 2026 finalists revealed
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has unveiled the finalists for its 2026 Pub of the Year (POTY) competition.
‘Fair deal’ VAT cut hopes hit by Treasury warning
Pubs face continued uncertainty over the prospect of a VAT cut after a Treasury minister warned reducing the tax would come at a significant cost.
OPINION
OPINION: Prices up, profits down
Two separate news stories caught my eye this week, both perfectly illustrating the challenges the hospitality sector and particularly pubs are facing.
Rates review must prevent ‘chaotic’ 2029 revaluation
The Government’s business rates review must make pub valuations more accurate, fair and transparent, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has said.
Rates review ‘will not solve’ pub cost pressure
The Government has launched a review into how biz rates are calculated for pubs and hotels in England and Wales.
Chancellor visits brewery after MPs urged to listen to sector
Chancellor John Healey recently visited a South Yorkshire brewery to discuss pressures facing hospitality, following calls for politicians to engage more closely with businesses across the sector.
Pub with cockroaches and bedbugs fined £17k
A pub operator and its director have been ordered to pay £17,000 after admitting offences linked to bedbugs, cockroaches and safety hazards.
JDW tells customers to ‘pipe down’ over phone noise
Tim Martin has told customers not to play videos, music or phone calls out loud in its pubs following complaints about noise.
Gov confirms 12-month test for pub conversions
New planning policy has confirmed pubs at risk of conversion will need to be marketed for their existing use for at least 12 months where commercial viability is cited.
Pub protections ‘fantastic news’ but costs still pushing venues out
Turning pubs into homes or offices is set to be made harder under changes to planning policy in England.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Antoniazzi: MPs must visit pubs more often to grasp pressures
Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi has urged politicians to spend more time visiting pubs and breweries, arguing the sector’s importance to communities must be better understood across Westminster.
‘It’s about give and take from Government’
The MA’s Ed Bedington met up with Beautiful Pub Collective’s Sam Hagger to get his take on the week’s headlines.
Burnham vows to ‘go further’ on biz rates
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the Government will do “everything possible” to lower costs for businesses, but warned there was limited room for further support.
Westminster: Khan’s licensing criticism is ‘power grab’
Westminster City Council has accused London mayor Sadiq Khan of pursuing a “relentless power grab” after he called for proposed pub and bar licensing restrictions to be dropped.
Future of PCA uncertain as government review nears verdict
The future of the Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) is under increasing scrutiny.
Bar cancels live music after noise notice
A hospitality venue has cancelled live entertainment after being served with a Noise Abatement Notice by the local council.
Khan: Soho pub rules ‘skewed’ towards vocal residents
London mayor Sadiq Khan has urged Westminster City Council to scrap proposed licensing restrictions that could limit new pub and bar openings in Soho and the West End.
UKH warns zero-hours contract changes could hit sector jobs
UKHospitality has warned hospitality operators proposals to change zero-hours contracts could “create barriers” when it comes to employing staff.
Martyn’s Law: Pubs urged to get ready ahead of 2027 rollout
The Government has urged hospitality businesses to review security procedures as it prepares for the next phase of Martyn’s Law.
‘It’s a tourist tax and I’m dead against it’
The MA’s Ed Bedington caught up with Signature Pubs director Louise MacLean for her views on the week’s latest news
Sector urged to ‘watch this space’ for Gov support
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the Government ‘would like to do more’ in supporting the hospitality sector.
OPINION
OPINION: Damn it, she’s right!
Lovely to see that the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has come out in support of pubs, describing them and other small businesses as the “only” real drivers of economic growth.
#VATsTheProblem
Pub group unveils new uniform backing #VATsTheProblem
Northamptonshire-based pub group Greedy Gordons has launched a new uniform for team members in support of the #VATsTheProblem campaign.
Badenoch champions pubs as engines for economic growth
Leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch has hailed pubs and other small businesses as the “only” real drivers of economic growth.
Holiday tax powers could become nationwide, UKH warns
Government plans to expand strategic authorities across England could turn holiday tax powers into a nationwide policy, UKHospitality has warned.
Councillors back new plan to support local pubs
Councillors in Nottinghamshire have unanimously backed plans to create a new support package for local pubs, following calls for greater protection for the sector.
Signs of hope from Government?
The MA’s Ed Bedington met up with Tamworth Tap operator George Greenaway to get his take on the week’s news.
Devolution must put nightlife at heart of growth
The night-time economy must be at the centre of the Government’s devolution plans, one trade body has warned.
‘Hospitality works best together’: Pubs call for wider sector support
Operators have called on the Government to build on its business rates cut with wider hospitality reform and broader sector support.
MP swaps parliament for 12-hour pub shift
A Labour MP swapped parliament for the pub over the weekend, pulling pints and serving customers to gain first-hand experience of the opportunities and challenges facing the pub trade.
OPINION
OPINION: Giddy up Government!
Straight out of the gates with a 20% cut in Business Rates is a promising start from our new Prime Minister, although many in the industry will be treating the move with caution.
From pubs minister to Chancellor: Healey’s impact on pubs
John Healey’s appointment as Chancellor has put a former pubs minister at the helm of the Treasury, giving hospitality a familiar face in one of the most influential roles in Government.
Rates cut: What it means for operators
The Government’s 20% business rates cut for pubs, social clubs and live music venues has been welcomed by the sector.
Rates reduction ‘first step’ says PM
The 20% cut in Business Rates is just a “first step” according to new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, following the announcement today (Thursday 23 July).
‘Sorely needed’ 20% biz rates cut ‘brilliant start to PM’s tenure’
The announcement of a 20% cut in business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues from April next year has been welcomed by organisation across the sector.
Tim Martin: Rates cut a ‘move in right direction’
Leading operators have welcomed Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s 20% business rates cut for pubs, but urged the Government to go further on VAT and wider reform.
OPINION
OPINION: A final round of irony for Starmer and Reeves
So we have a new Prime Minister and even more importantly a new Chancellor as well - something many in the industry will be cheering.
PCA marks decade of regulating the tied pub sector
As the pubs code adjudicator (PCA) reaches its 10-year milestone, The Morning Advertiser (The MA) looks at why it was created, what powers it has and the latest updates from the regulator.
Burnham urged to deliver campaign pledges
Trade bodies have welcomed Andy Burnham’s appointment as Prime Minister, but warned urgent action is needed to turn his campaign pledges into reality.
120 pubs to receive extra rates relief
Pubs in south Oxfordshire are set to receive an additional 15% off their business rates after the district council approved a one off support scheme for 2026 and 2027.
Councillors demand action to protect pubs from rising costs
Councillors in Nottinghamshire have called for greater protection for independent pubs and action from the Government on the cost pressures facing the hospitality sector.
From Manchester to No.10: What Burnham has promised hospitality
As Andy Burnham enters Downing Street as Prime Minister (PM), the sector will be watching closely to see if his pledges to cut costs can become reality.
Hot weather and World Cup give sector ‘important lifeline’ as insolvencies fall
The number of businesses in the accommodation and food services sector has continued a downward trend.
What is happening with tipping legislation?
Following calls for clarity on planned changes to tipping rules, Peter Davies from WMT Troncmaster Services takes a look at what is going on with the legislation.
Operators urged to review fire safety after deadly Bangkok pub blaze
Pub, bar and nightclub operators have been urged to review fire safety procedures following a deadly blaze at a Bangkok venue.
Firms left with ‘absolutely no certainty or clarity’ about tipping legislation
The Government has been urged to provide clarity on tipping legislation after a draft code of practice was withdrawn.
Pub-saving scheme in Wales labelled a ‘game-changer’
A Welsh government scheme that would allow communities to buy their local pubs has been described as a “game-changer”.
Clarkson: Expensive pints turning young people to drugs
Jeremy Clarkson has claimed the rising cost of alcohol has made illegal drugs a more attractive option for young people, adding legalising and taxing them would encourage more people back into pubs.