Kmflett's Blog

Antwerp Arms, community owned pub in Tottenham

The Campaign for Real Ale & Andy Burham on pubs. Pints & People & Working Class Culture

The Government’s announcement of a business rates cut for pubs from April 2027 has been broadly welcomed, although of course naysayers can be found. It is or should be a start to addressing a crisis on hospitality. That means helping independent pubs and brewers and keeping pubs open as the hub of community life for all. Global brewers and the pub chains they own are doing Ok as it is (but will still benefit)

Ash Corbett-Collins, chair of the Campaign for Real Ale, said:

This is a brilliant start to the new Prime Minister’s tenure, living up to the statements that he’s made before about pubs, pints and people.

Our business rates system is grossly unfair to pubs and social clubs, bricks and mortar businesses that are also vital social institutions for their communities and desperately needs reform.

As always we need to see the details at the Budget, but another year of rate relief will provide vital breathing space to publicans in England, while the work to review the rating system for hospitality businesses presumably continues.

Andy Burnham 23^rd July 2026

This is to me our heritage. It’s working class culture. Once pubs are gone, they don’t come back. So we’ve just got to signal what support when we can. That’s why I’ve made this early announcement. This is a significant cut to the business rates that pubs and other venues pay,” Mr Burnham said.