Following the announcements in this year's Budget, it’s more important than ever to make our collective voice heard on the issues impacting pubs and brewers. We are in active discussions across Parliament, Whitehall and the media to make our case, and will be having further government meetings next week, but we aren't stopping there. We’ve prepared a template letter for you, as publicans to send to their local MP, ensuring that the concerns of our sector are communicated clearly and consistently at a local level.

Please find the letter attached below: 

[Your Address]  

[Date]  
[MP Name]  
House of Commons  
London SW1A 0AA   

Re: Urgent Meeting Request – The Future of Pubs and Impact of Budget 

Dear [MP Name],  

I am writing to you as a local publican and a constituent deeply concerned about the future of pubs in our community following the Budget. Pubs are more than businesses – they are the beating heart of our towns and villages, providing jobs, supporting local suppliers, and offering a safe, welcoming space for people to come together. You know how important pubs are to [constituency], and we feel let down. 

We, and our trade representatives at the British Beer and Pub Association and British Institute of Innkeeping, have engaged with Government and politicians making the case for a sustainable operating environment, and we’ve been left disappointed and uncertain of our future.   

The measures announced in the Budget, particularly around business rates, have placed an unsustainable burden on venues like ours. Despite efforts to modernise and adapt, the current system disproportionately penalises pubs compared to other sectors. The promised reforms have increased bills not reduced them. For us it is an existential threat.  

To put this into perspective:  

• My business rates will now rise to [£X] per year, far exceeding what is fair or sustainable for a community-based business.  
• Margins are already squeezed by rising energy costs, inflation, and supply chain pressures. The average profit on a pint is just 12p, we cannot afford to absorb any more of these costs and will have to pass onto customers.  
• Every closure means lost jobs, reduced local investment, and the erosion of vital social spaces.  

We are proud to contribute to the local economy and culture, but without meaningful reform, the reality is many pubs won’t survive. This isn’t just about business – it’s about preserving a cornerstone of British life and local communities.   
I urge you to please seek an urgent commitment from the Chancellor to revisit the business rates settlement for pubs and deliver what was promised in actual lower bills. Your support could make a real difference in ensuring that business like ours survive. I would also be grateful for the opportunity to meet with you at your next constituency surgery to discuss these issues in detail. 

Please let me know a suitable time for this discussion. Thank you for your attention and for standing up for local businesses and communities.  

Yours sincerely,  

[Your Name]