Following last year’s Autumn Budget, I have been engaging with and listening to local publicans and hospitality leaders across our community. I wanted to provide an update on the actions I have been taking in Parliament to support pubs.
Firstly, thank you if you attended my event before Christmas to feed into the licensing reforms, contributed to my representatives to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, completed my recent online survey or contacted me directly to share views and concerns. This has been invaluable in ensuring our city’s voice in heard in Westminster.
I know from this engagement that there have been huge pressures since the pandemic and energy crisis, and business rates has been a particular concern.
As you may be aware, I strongly believe that Portsmouth’s pubs are vital social institutions that bring people together and help preserve the vitality of our high streets. I have liaised with Ministers about this, and I am pleased that the Government is backing pubs with a new business rates relief, on top of the support announced at last year’s Budget.
If your pub pays business rates, then they will get a 15 per cent relief on the new bill in the next financial year from April 2026, followed by a two-year real terms freeze on the business rates bill. Every pub will benefit from this, and around three quarters will see their bill either flat or falling next year.
The Government will also be reviewing how pubs are valued for business rates, so that by the time of the next revaluation it better reflects the costs you face.
Alongside this welcome support, the Government has also announced that it will let pubs open later for key match days in the World Cup, consult on making it easier for pubs to expand and add accommodation, and provide more funding for some pubs to provide extra services in their communities.
Finally, Ministers have announced they will be bringing forward a ‘High Streets Strategy’ later in the year and will be working with businesses across the high street to develop further support.
I will continue to do what I can to support pubs and the wider sector, and as ever, do get in touch if I can be of assistance. More detail on the recent announcement from Government can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pubs-and-live-music-venues-relief
Business Rates Calculator – the link to estimate business rates liability for pubs and live music venues can be found at https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/business-rates-find/calculator-start
If you have any views about what you think should happen to local pub and live music venue support in the future, please get in touch.
Stephen Morgan MP
