Richard Tice has outlined a two-point plan to halt “disastrous” pub closures as he claims they are getting “shafted” by local councils.
It comes as British boozers buckle as the pandemic’s pressures continue to keep them in a stranglehold, with nearly 400 closures in the first six months of the year.
According to data from real estate intelligence firm Altus Group, 39,787 pubs were still running in England and Wales at the end of 2022.
Data collected at the end of the second quarter on June 30 showed only 39,404 remain, meaning a total loss of 383 pubs.
Richard Tice has outlined what can be done to save pubs
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Reform UK leader Richard Tice has outline “two key things” that could help make watering holes a key staple in the British economy once more.
“Cut business rates on small business, pubs, leisure, that would make the profit loss easier”, he said.
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“Also, we have got to have much lower energy costs, they are making it really difficult for pubs.
“The way you can pay for cheaper or zero business rates for smaller business on the high street is you have a small delivery tax for the huge increase in deliveries.
“The Ebays, the Amazons, the JustEats and all of that. It creates a level playing field.”
Tice added that the consumer must be the one to foot the bill for such a charge.
The pub-going experience has been hampered by closures
PEXELSHe said: You’ve then got genuine choice, at the moment there isn’t a playing field.
“It’s actually the pubs, the small businesses and the high streets that are struggling and they are getting absolutely shafted by councils that keep raising business rates.
“You end up with half empty high streets and sadly, hundreds of our pubs shutting. It’s a disaster.”
Wales was the worst affected region with 52 pub closures, with London and the North-West both at 46 respectively.
Yorkshire and Humberside was in third place with 43 closures.
The North-East had the fewest closures at 25, however it has the fewest pubs among the regions.
According to figures released this month, the amount of pubs being demolished or covered for other uses across England and Wales rose by 50 per cent over the latest quarter.
Official Government statistics have revealed 230 pubs disappeared for goof in the three months to June 30.