Dear Chancellor,

Budget 2024: Support pubs and UK small brewers

We are writing on behalf of the Campaign for Pubs, urging you to take decisive action in the Budget on 6th March to support and save many pubs and small breweries.  The stark reality is that many pubs and publicans, and also small breweries, are struggling due to the cost-of-living crisis, inflation and high energy bills.  Around 500 pubs closed permanently in 2023, removing valuable community hubs from the local economy.

Almost all business costs have rocketed while consumers have been forced to reign-in their spending. This follows on from the lockdown restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw pubs lose a huge proportion of revenue for 18 months and accrue debts, while pub-supplying small breweries received no sector-specific support at all.