Business Rates

Business leaders and MPs increase calls for industry support ahead of Budget

29-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Hospitality business leaders have signed an open letter urging the Chancellor to take immediate action at the Budget to support the sector.

‘Concern’ from Welsh hospitality as rates relief slashed

21-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

Hospitality businesses in Wales are facing a business rates hike next year after the Welsh Government announced it would reduce the sector’s discount while raising the rate across the board.

Scottish hospitality pleads for rates support as 10,000 businesses ‘hang in the balance’

18-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

New analysis shows that thousands of Scottish hospitality businesses will be left unsupported if rates relief isn’t included in the Scottish Budget tomorrow (19 December).

Relief for hospitality as rates relief extended, but operators left wanting by Autumn Statement

22-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Hospitality leaders have voiced frustration at the Chancellor’s failure to announce any additional support measures for the sector in his Autumn Statement, beyond those already in place.

Chancellor extends business rates discount for hospitality as he delivers Autumn Statement

22-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has confirmed that the business rates discount for hospitality businesses will be extended for a further year, with the multiplier for small premises also frozen.

Confidence in hospitality sector climbs again despite cost challenges and rates threat

22-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

The optimism of Britain’s hospitality leaders has risen for the fourth quarter in a row, but they remain concerned about inflation in key inputs, and the challenge of business rates.

Business leaders warn of 'disastrous’ consequences if business rates increase

16-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

A coalition of leading hospitality, retail and leisure organisations have written to the Chancellor urging him to freeze the business rates multiplier and extend existing reliefs for a further year at the upcoming Autumn Statement.

Key industry players join calls for Government to scrap business rates rise

10-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Key industry players including Tom Kerridge, Tom Aikens and Monica Galetti have signed a letter calling on the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to extend business rates support in his Autumn Statement.

Trade bodies push for further business rates support ahead of Autumn Statement

06-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Hospitality trade bodies have reasserted calls for the Government to extend business rates support, after new data showed inaction would force operators to reduce investment and cut staffing levels.

Inflation to drop £864m business rates 'bombshell' on hospitality

18-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

The planned inflation-linked rise in business rates in April will cost hospitality businesses an additional £234m it has been revealed.

UKHospitality makes fresh call to freeze business rates amid warning of £220m bill rise

21-Aug-2023 By Restaurant

UKHospitality has made a fresh plea for the Chancellor to freeze business rates, amid warnings a hike in bills could dent investment and leave many small firms ‘on the brink’.

UKHospitality Scotland demands ‘new approach’ to business rates system

19-May-2023 By James McAllister

UKHospitality Scotland has pushed back against the Scottish Government’s claim that restaurants have seen a decrease in their overall rateable value, saying it ‘doesn’t reflect the reality on the ground’.

Government looks to ‘modernise’ business rates system with new bill

30-Mar-2023 By James McAllister

The Government has introduced a new bill that aims to ‘modernise’ the business rates system by incentivising property improvements and supporting more frequent revaluations.

Hospitality reasserts calls for business rates reform in wake of ‘disappointing’ Budget

16-Mar-2023 By James McAllister

Hospitality leaders have reasserted calls for the Government to reform business rates, after the Chancellor ignored industry-wide calls for an overhaul of the current system in his Budget.

Chancellor commits to business rates and energy support but hospitality remains fearful for the future

17-Nov-2022 By James McAllister

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has confirmed that business rates relief and support with rising energy bills will continue for firms beyond April 2023 in his Autumn Statement.

Protesters target parliament in third demonstration

15-Nov-2022 By Ed Bedington

Hospitality operators from across the UK gathered in Parliament Square this week, in a bid to raise awareness of the sector’s challenges with the Government.

Hospitality sector faces £900m business rates increase

14-Nov-2022 By Restaurant

Hospitality businesses are facing a £900m increase in business rates next April, if current relief ends and rates increase in line with inflation, UKHospitality has warned.

Hospitality 'left out in the cold' as Chancellor announces sweeping tax cuts

23-Sep-2022 By James McAllister

Industry leaders have warned that today's mini-budget, which promises sweeping tax cuts but fails to offer firms any immediate financial support, will mean 'last orders' for thousands of hospitality businesses.

UKHospitality responds to business rates consultation

21-Jul-2022 By Joe Lutrario

UKHospitality has called for reductions under reformed business rates to be reflected in bills ‘as quickly as possible’.

UKHospitality calls for online sales tax and reduced business rates

20-May-2022 By Shwetali Sapte

UKHospitality (UKH) has urged the Government to introduce an online sales tax to reduce business rates for hospitality.

High streets 'face £3bn rates rise' next month

24-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

Hospitality businesses in England face a ‘dangerous cost of doing business crisis’ with high street business rates set to rise £3.1bn on 1 April, according to Altus Group.

Business rates 'present a clear and present threat' to pubs with 20,000 at risk, MPs warn

21-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

The All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group (APPBG) of MPs has warned that a failure to reform business rates could leave around 20,000 UK pubs at risk.

Business rates discount 'a sticking plaster' that 'will not help larger firms'

28-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

The one-year business rates discount for sectors including hospitality and leisure announced in the Chancellor's Budget has been described as 'a sticking plaster' that 'will not help the bigger firms'.

Sunak promises to 'ease the burden' of business rates as he sets out Autumn Budget

27-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has set out his plan to 'ease the burden' of business rates in a Budget that promised more frequent revaluations and a one-year discount for the sector.

Autumn Budget: five things to look out for

27-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Ahead of today’s (27 October) Autumn Budget, here are five things to look out for that will have a significant impact on hospitality as it recovers from the pandemic.

UKHospitality requests urgent meeting with Treasury over business rates

15-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

UKHospitality is to request an urgent meeting with the Treasury, amid reports a major overhaul of business rates has been shelved so ministers and officials can undertake further work..

Sunak set to delay plans for business rates reform

14-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Plans for a major overhaul of the business rates system have been shelved, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak now only expected to unveil smaller scale tweaks in this month's Budget.

UKHospitality calls for targeted package of support in Budget submission

04-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

UKHospitality has called for a targeted package of post-pandemic support for the sector, including a permanent lower rate of VAT, in its Budget submission to the Treasury.

Hospitality trade bodies demand business rates overhaul as sector overpays by billions

25-Aug-2021 By James McAllister

Hospitality trade bodies have called on the Government to introduce business rates reform amid claims the current system causes the sector to overpay by £2.4bn each year.

British Property Federation proposes reforms to business rates revaluations

24-Aug-2021 By Georgi Gyton

The British Property Federation (BPF) has proposed the Government introduce annual business rates revaluations, describing the current system as 'broken'.

UKHospitality urges sector to prepare for new business rates payments

02-Jun-2021 By James McAllister

UKHospitality has put out a call urging sector businesses in England to fully prepare for new business rates payments that will kick in from 1 July.

Businesses face ‘rocky road to recovery’

19-Apr-2021 By Finn Scott-Delany

Hospitality trade bodies UKH, BBPA and BII have called for Government to extend the business rates holiday for at least a further three months to allow businesses to get back on their feet.

New business rates relief fund 'a mixed bag' for sector

26-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Legislation that could potentially bar thousands of hospitality-adjacent businesses from accessing business rates relief has been described as 'deeply shocking'.

UKHospitality calls for business rates relief cap rethink

24-Mar-2021 By Joe Lutrario

UKHospitality analysis shows almost 8,000 venues, employing about 343,000 people will be paying full business rates in July, despite Budget measures to soften the acute rates burden.

Northern Ireland extends business rates holiday

12-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

The Northern Ireland Executive has announced it is extending the business rates holiday for certain sectors, including hospitality, for a further 12 months.

UKHospitality: business rates cap 'could threaten the survival of jobs and businesses'

05-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

UKHospitality has warned the £2m cap imposed on business rates relief in Wednesday’s (3 March) Budget 'could threaten the survival of jobs and businesses in the sector'.

Wales extends business rates holiday for 12 months

04-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

The rates holiday for the hospitality, leisure and retail sectors in Wales will be extended for a further 12 months, Finance Minister Rebecca Evans has announced.

Chancellor to delay ‘fundamental’ review of business rates

19-Feb-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Rishi Sunak is to delay the publication of the Treasury’s ‘fundamental review’ of business rates until Autumn.

UKHospitality: 'Business rates holiday and VAT cut extension essential for hospitality revival'

20-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

Trade body UKHospitality has called for a 'bold package' of support to enable businesses in the sector to spearhead country’s economic revival in 2021.

Sadiq Khan calls for extension to business rates holiday

03-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has called on the Government to extend the current business rates holiday for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses.

Business rates bill could be 'last straw' for thousands of pubs

14-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Thousands of pubs could close for good if nothing is done to stop an £800m business rates bill coming into force early next year.

Government seeks evidence for business rates review

21-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

The Government has launched a call for evidence as it prepares to conduct a 'fundamental review' of business rates.

Large restaurant groups overlooked in Budget 2020

12-Mar-2020 By Sophie Witts

Large hospitality businesses were “utterly ignored” in yesterday’s Budget despite being on the “front line” of the Coronavirus impact, UKHospitality has said.

Government commits to business rates review

19-Dec-2019 By Sophie Witts

Small restaurants, pubs and cafes will see a reduction in their business rates bills under plans outlined in the Queen's Speech today (19 December).

General Election 2019: industry bodies welcome end to 'uncertainty'

13-Dec-2019 By Sophie Witts

Hospitality trade bodies have called on the Conservatives to follow through on promises to cut business rates after the party won a clear majority in the general election.

UKHospitality: business rates have directly contributed to the decline of high streets

31-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

A government reporting calling for action on business rates has been welcomed by trade body UKHospitality.

MPs launch inquiry in to business rates reform

01-Feb-2019 By Sophie Witts

A group of MPs has launched an inquiry in to reforming the business rates system following a raft of closures on the UK high street.

Caprice Holdings' sales rise amid 'tough' market conditions

02-Jan-2019 By Sophie Witts

Richard Caring’s Caprice Holdings restaurant group saw a rise in sales in 2017, but struggled with growing business rates and wage bills.

What does Autumn Budget 2018 mean for hospitality?

30-Oct-2018 By Sophie Witts

The Autumn Budget drew a mixed reaction from the hospitality industry, with Chancellor Philip Hammond offering an olive branch to the high street, but facing criticism from winemakers.

Lib Dems call to scrap "badly designed" business rates

30-Aug-2018 By Sophie Witts

UKHospitality has praised proposals by the Liberal Democrats to scrap business rates.