The Budget, delivered by Shona Robison MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, included an announcement that pubs will receive 40% business rates relief on rateable values up to £51,000, something that will help many smaller pubs in Scotland. The Campaign wrote to the Scottish Government imploring her and the Scottish Government to listen. 

The business rates relief is vital for Scotland’s pubs, especially in light of the considerable increased costs imposed on pubs in the UK Budget a few weeks ago through a rise in employers’ National Insurance, the Minimum Wage and increases in most forms of alcohol duty.    

The Campaign for Pubs has been calling for parity of business rates relief for Scotland’s pubs for the last two years and previously the calls have been ignored, but the Campaign has welcomed today’s announcement and thanked the Scottish Government for listening to Scottish publicans. 

Commenting, Morag Douglas, Scottish Spokesperson of the Campaign for Pubs and licensee at The Star, Burntisland said:

“After two years of campaigning we are delighted that the Scottish Government are finally recognising the importance of the community pub to Scottish society. In these increasingly difficult times when so many pubs are closing their doors forever, at the very least we deserve parity with our English colleagues. Hopefully this recognition will continue through a meaningful reform of the business rates system and 40% relief  is certainly a step in the right direction”.

Greg Mulholland, Campaign Director of the Campaign for Pubs said:

“This is good news for many pubs and licensees in Scotland, but it is also essential to help Scottish pubs to get through the cost-of-living crisis. We thank the Scottish Government for listening to publicans and we look forward to engaging with them further to discuss a full overhaul of the unfair business  system and a fairer system that doesn’t penalise pubs”.  

ENDS