Dear Chancellor,

Spring Statement – please target your support to help save pubs

We are writing on behalf of the Campaign for Pubs, the national grassroots campaign group representing pubs, publicans and pub-goers, and on behalf of thousands of publicans, the people who actually run our nation’s pubs, as opposed to the huge corporations who may own pub buildings, but do not actually run them.

As you know, the UK’s pubs have faced their most difficult time ever in the last two years, with publicans facing unprecedented periods of lockdowns and restrictions as trade was decimated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Publicans are grateful for the support they received during the pandemic which in many cases was vital in helping pubs survive until this point. We thank you for those measures.

However, the loss of income sustained in the face of ongoing costs, often including continued rent and other property costs, has left many publicans with considerable levels of debt which can only be paid off in the coming months and years if they are able to sustain exceptionally good levels of turnover…