The British government has today announced a support package for the pub sector and live music venues, providing some relief on property tax rises announced last year which had left the UK hospitality industry reeling.
Pubs in the UK have suffered a long term decline driven in part by changing drinking habits and demographics.
Planned increases to taxes on commercial properties announced in November's budget prompted an outcry, including warnings of mass closures and even a group of more than 1,000 landlords banning Labour Party lawmakers from their premises.
The UK government today, having signalled earlier this month they would try to soften the blow, announced a new support package.
"From April, every pub in England will get 15% off its new business rates bill on top of the support announced at budget. Pub's bills will then be frozen in real terms for a further two years," Treasury minister Daniel Tomlinson told parliament.
"This support is worth £1,650 for the average pub just next year, and will mean that around three quarters of pubs will see their bills either fall or stay the same next year," he said.
The watering down of the tax rise is the latest in a string of partial or full reversals from Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government as, struggling to invigorate a relatively sluggish economy and suffering in the polls, he looks for ways to raise more money to balance the books and improve public services.
Previous u-turns driven by pressure from within his own party and directly from voters, include a plan to raise more tax from farmers, cut welfare spending and reduce subsidies on energy bills for the elderly.
