Public House News
PUBS CALL FOR ACTION OVER LOOMING £60 MILLION BUSINESS RATES BOMBSHELL
Leading trade and consumer associations representing the UK’s pub sector and pubgoers have jointly called on the Government to take decisive action on unfair business rates.
The call for action follows the RPI inflation figures of 3.9% which will see the sector pay an additional £60 million in business rates from next April, equivalent to over £1,500 per pub.
The increase is further compounded by the impact of last year’s rates revaluation which continues to lead to an increase in taxes just a year on. Eating and drinking out businesses, particularly pubs, have been hit hard by the latest rates revaluation. Further increases risk undermining investment and could ultimately threaten jobs.
The pub sector is already overpaying on rates by over £500 million and faces further increases of over £125 million during this revaluation period. The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, British Beer
& Pub Association, British Institute of Innkeeping, Campaign for Real Ale and Society of Independent Brewers are calling for the extension of business rates relief for pub and an increase in the amount of relief to £5,000 – which would reduce the level of overpayment by about one third.
The group is also calling on the Government to switch to using CPI to calculate rates at the earliest opportunity, which would lessen the impact in 2018 by £6 million.
In a joint statement, the five leading industry and consumer bodies said:
“Pubs have been hit disproportionately hard by the recent business rates increase and we need decisive action urgently. Pubs and other venues pay around 15p per pint in business rates. This is indicative of the skewed and unfair nature of the current system that unreasonably punishes businesses that are vital economically and important social hubs.
“If the Government does not take steps to address this inequality and provide support for vital businesses then investment is going to continue to be undermined and jobs will be at risk. With the current political and economic instability surrounding Brexit, decisive action on business rates would be welcome and timely support.”
STONEGATE PUB COMPANY REGION TOPS £73,500 FOR NOAH’S ARK CHILDREN’S HOSPICE
One hundred and fifty Stonegate pubs and a team of the pub company’s area managers has raised a phenomenal £73,500 for North and Central London-based Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice.
A cheque was presented by Adam Stothart of Stonegate to Daisy Wilson of Noah’s Ark on Wednesday (4 October) after a summer of pub fundraising activities. Events ranging from beach parties to beard growing culminated in a 12.5-mile journey on foot from Bexleyheath into the City of London with 300 managers and team members decked out in Spartan regalia.
With nearly every one of the company’s traditional pubs raising cash for charity, the south joined together to maximise their impact, raising the cash in a matter of just a few months.
8 NOVEMBER 2017
Adam Stothart, Stonegate Area Manager and organiser of the Spartan walk said, “From the second Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice presented to us, it was a unanimous decision for us to support them, the positive work they do really is heartening. The pubs have had some terrific fun whilst raising the profile of both Noah’s Ark and the positive effect pubs have in supporting their communities.”
Daisy Wilson from Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice said, “The amount that Stonegate pubs have raised in such a short space of time is tremendous and will contribute hugely to the funds required for to our community-based hospice services
We have also just launched our Building The Ark campaign, which will be North and Central London’s first children’s
hospice, complementing our Hospice- at-Home services. It’s therefore an incredibly exciting time to be working with Stonegate as w move towards completing our circle of care for the families we support.”
Noah’s Ark works to ensure families are able to live life as fully as possible by providing support for those who have children with life-limiting or life- threatening conditions.
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