Following the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, Emma McClarkin Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association said:

“It is right the Chancellor has acknowledged of the need for changes to our business rates system and extended and increased relief to 75% for pubs, so they do not continue to be penalised through unfair taxation. Urgent root and branch reform is still needed make business rates fit for the 21^st century, with the decision not to introduce an Online Sales Tax it seems the Government doesn’t recognise the completely archaic nature of the current system.

“The failure to provide any further relief for our industry today will hit pubs, breweries and their customers extremely hard this winter, and will have a devastating, lasting impact on communities across the country.

“Without lower beer duty or detail on whether energy costs will dramatically increase early next year, pub and brewers will still be forced to continue to make incredibly difficult decisions. The last thing they want to do is increase costs for their customers; they want to remain a place of solace, warmth and community, especially now, when the country needs them most.  

“The Chancellor says we need to weather the storm together, but pubs and brewers are still facing a hurricane of costs leaving nothing but destruction in its wake. Their costs up 22% on average from last year, we are now losing 50 pubs a month for good.  With the entire country being plunged further into a cost-of-living crisis that shows no signs of let up, there is nowhere for these businesses left to go.

“Our pubs and brewers want to remain strong, serve their communities and have the potential to support the Government’s mission to level up every single part of the UK. They have stood at the heart of villages, towns and cities for centuries. They pulled through the pandemic but are now faced with an existential crisis that will undoubtedly force more business closures in the coming months, as they simply have no options left. More is needed from the Government to secure their future.”