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England to cut business rates for pubs and venues by 20% from April

The discount will save eligible firms an estimated £1,100 next year, and is expected to benefit almost 32,000 venues.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Trade & Tariffs

England will give pubs, clubs, and live music venues a 20% cut to business rates from April, with the government estimating the move will save affected firms about £1,100 next year, BBC Business reports.

The policy, announced by Prime Minister Andy Burnham as a first step in his third set of measures since taking office, is expected to cost £100 million and will be funded through a review of tax relief for firms such as vape shops, which the government says do not positively contribute to local communities.

Pubs have already received two rounds of relief, first a 15% cut in April and then an additional 20% set to take effect next year, but the new business-rate discount will not apply to the very largest live music venues.

The government said details on which businesses qualify will be released at Chancellor John Healey's first Budget in the autumn. UK Hospitality chief executive Allen Simpson called the plan a good start, while other parts of the sector, including hotels and restaurants, questioned why the 20% cut would not extend to them, and a pub owner said the relief could help but warned that eligibility details may determine how meaningful it is.

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