The British Beer and Pub Association convened an emergency summit today at the Prince of Wales pub on Drury Lane in central London, responding to last week's Budget announcement that will see some establishments face business rates increases of up to £16,000 annually.
The trade body gathered industry representatives at the venue to address what it describes as a crisis facing the sector following the Government's fiscal measures.
Emma McLachlan, the association's chief executive, said the promised overhaul of business rates had failed to deliver fairness for the industry.
"We were promised that all of that would be changed by the 'great reset' on business rates in this Budget in 2025. That has not taken place," she said.
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Ms McLachlan outlined the mounting financial burden placed on the pub sector, noting the previous year's Budget had imposed an additional £650million in costs on the industry.
"At the last Budget in 2024, they added £650million worth of costs into the pub sector," she said.
The association had briefed ministers ahead of this year's fiscal statement about the severe difficulties facing publicans, warning that establishments were struggling to generate any meaningful returns.
"Fairness has not been added in, and sadly, pubs will see their rates bills going up alongside wages and beer duty," Ms McLachlan added.
Emma McClarkin spoke to GB News at the emergency pub summit
|GB NEWS
She described the situation as leaving the industry in "an impossible position to see a future," with the anticipated reforms having failed to materialise.
She said: "I think it’s going to be a very difficult time of year. Publicans are very distressed, wondering how they can keep their doors open in the future and many don’t see that future right now.
"So for some, it might be their last. That’s why we’re asking the Government to take direct action immediately, to support our pubs with a pub-specific solution that will give them clarity and certainty, so they can keep serving their communities across this country.
"There are many things around the methodology for rateable value for these businesses, but the reality is that will take a long time to change and deliver.
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She described the situation as leaving the industry in 'an impossible position to see a future'
| PA"So we need the Government to take action now and come up with pub-specific relief, or to pause those rateable increases while we take another look at getting business rates reform right for the long term."
Around 50 pubs across Britain have begun displaying "No Labour MPs" signs on their doors, vowing not to serve Government politicians until their grievances are taken seriously.
The movement was launched last Friday by Andy Lennox, who runs the Old Thatch in Dorset.
"It’s popping up in new towns every day,” Lennox said. “By the end of the week, it’ll be everywhere."
Requests for protest materials have poured in from venues as far away as Clacton-on-Sea.
The backlash followed the November Budget by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who claimed it delivered "the lowest tax rates since 1991" — including a permanent five-per-cent cut for hospitality and retail businesses.
But publicans say that claim is deeply misleading. Relief introduced during the pandemic, when business-rate bills were slashed by 75 per cent was first reduced to 40 per cent, and is now due to vanish entirely in April.
On top of that, many pubs have been hit with sudden hikes to their rateable values, adding even more pressure to a sector already under strain.
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