Chancellors budget could see ‘pubs close’ ending ‘the beating heart of a community’ – London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

Hospitality chiefs are fearful that the Chancellor’s Halloween Budget could put an end to the “affordable pint” and force venues to close for good.

Brewers are warning they will be driven out of business as Rachel Reeves has strongly suggested raising taxes on alcohol.

The Chancellor is considering raising alcohol duty in the upcoming budget and Reeves has not addressed the 75% business rates relief for pubs to be extended pass April 2025.

The hospitality sector is facing a “cost of doing business crisis” and the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) warned, “The industry simply cannot afford other costs, let alone tax increases.

“Put plainly, for thousands of pubs and brewers across the country there is nothing left to give. The cost of this will be borne by brewers and pubs initially but… ultimately it is the customer who will have to foot the bill.”

Youngs, Greene King, Wetherspoons and Heineken UK signed a letter detailing a five point plan, they wrote, “If that plan is not delivered, we will see pubs close and the end of the affordable pint.

“When a pub struggles to survive, it cannot continue to be the beating heart of a community, keep employing staff, or contribute to economic growth.”