Responding to yesterday’s Welsh Budget, Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the Welsh Beer and Pub Association said:
“We welcome the extension of the RHL relief for a further 12 months and continued recognition of the disproportionate rates burden of pubs in Wales. However, the 40% relief announced is significantly lower than the 75% relief in England and will leave Welsh pubs around £6000 a year worse off than their English counterparts. This is incredibly disappointing as pubs in Wales are still struggling with sharply rising costs and will now have to include higher business rates among them. The multiplier cap at 5% is better news for larger pubs in Wales compared to the 6.7% in England. However, for smaller Welsh pubs, this is compared against a continued freeze in England and means a further business rate increase on top of the reduction in relief.
“We now need a permanent solution for pubs in Wales through a lower-sector specific multiplier from April 2025 and look forward to engaging with the Welsh Government to try and deliver this.”
ENDS
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