Brits face a 5p rise in the price of a pint because of a ‘crippling’ tax bombshell
More than 17,000 pubs across the UK face a whopping 19 per cent rise in their business rates from the beginning of April
BRITS face a 5p rise in the price of a pint because of a “crippling” tax bombshell – the Sun can reveal.
More than 17,000 pubs across the UK face a whopping 19 per cent rise in their business rates from the beginning of April.
Furious industry figures claim one boozer in Stoke has will see a huge FOUR-FOLD rise because of the radical reform of the Government’s business rate regime.
The British Beer and Pub Association adds that landlords also face a huge rise in costs this April from the higher National Living Wage and the start of the Government’s Apprenticeship levy.
BBPA Brigid Simmons said the overall effect over the next two years will be equivalent to a near 10 per cent rise in the beer duty – or a 5.3p increase in the price of a pint.
The increase comes at the same time as big supermarkets see rates FALL for some big superstores.
Ms Simmonds said: “The Government says it wants to be on the side of small business, so we need action now.
“Our pubs are at the heart of our social lives, and unless pubs get relief from huge rate rises, many more will be in very serious trouble.”
Business rates – the commercial equivalent of the council tax- are being reset to reflect seven years of changes to property prices. This means that while some businesses are seeing a cut, others in city centres largely across the south are being hit with huge increases.
The industry wants pubs to be able to spread the cost over a five year ‘transitional’ period.
Kate Nicholls, chief exec of the pubs lobby group the ALMR, told the Sun: “Untimely and crippling increases in business rates are threatening to squeeze the life out of many pubs.
“Ours is the only sector which is facing increases from April across the country.
“It is well past the time the Government took action to ensure that businesses remain competitive and have the capacity to invest, support jobs and grow.”
UK beer duty is already the third highest in the EU and three times the EU average.