Relief plans may lift thousands of pubs from rate burden, say operators
Chancellor John Healey is expected to raise the rateable value threshold for business rates from £12,000 to £18,000 as part of the Budget due on 28 October. The change could take around 75,000 properties out of business rates, including about 2,600 pubs, 2,500 restaurants and 1,600 cafés across England. Industry operators offered mixed reactions. Tim Bird of Cheshire Cat Pubs and Bars said the move would not change much for his sites, mainly helping very small operators avoid rates. Paul McAstocker, a multi-site London pub operator, welcomed any relief but noted many pubs already have rateable values above the threshold and broader industry support is needed. Ayesha Kalaji, chef-owner of Queen of Cups, argues the measure doesn’t tackle the sector’s principal tax burden. Tim Martin, founder of JD Wetherspoon, says the industry should consider excise duty, employment costs and other levies together rather than treating this as a stand-alone change. The reports follow Healey’s meetings with hospitality groups including UKHospitality ahead of the Budget. Official comment was cautious: the HM Treasury emphasised tax decisions rest with the Chancellor and declined to comment on rumours, while the Department for Business and Trade referred questions to the Treasury, citing a breathing-space aim within fiscal rules. Source: The Morning Advertiser
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