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Public Houses: Business Rates

Asked by Sir James CleverlyConservativeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 11 March 2026UIN 117298

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2026 to Question 109262, whether pubs which have (a) rooms and (b) conference and wedding facilities for private hire will be able to receive the full amount of the new pub relief on their full Rateable Value; and whether local authorities may (i) refuse the pub relief from being applied and (ii) only apply it in part.

Answered by Alison McGovern

It is for local authorities to determine whether properties are eligible for the Pub and Live Music Venues Relief as per the definitions provided by government in the guidance for local authorities published on 18 February. This can be found on gov.uk at here.

A local authority may refuse the relief if in its view the property in question does not meet the definitions as per the guidance. The relief cannot be applied to only part of the property.

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