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Hospitality Industry

Asked by Lee AndersonReform UKDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled Answered 8 September 2026UIN 21774

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what recent conversations his department has had with (a) pubs and (b) other hospitality businesses about the pressures they are facing.

Answered by Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade

The Government recognises the vital contribution that pubs and other hospitality businesses make to local economies, high streets and communities, including in Ashfield and across Nottinghamshire. We continue to engage closely with the sector through regular engagement with businesses and representative bodies, including through the Hospitality Sector Council, to understand the pressures hospitality businesses are facing.

The Government has implemented a package of support for hospitality businesses, including permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties and a £4.3 billion package over three years to support businesses facing increases following revaluation. Eligible pubs, clubs and live music venues are receiving a 15% business rates relief in 2026/27, followed by a further 20% discount from April 2027 benefitting around 32,000 venues. Alongside this, we are developing a new High Streets Strategy and have increased the Hospitality Support Fund to £10 million over three years to support business resilience productivity and growth.

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