The Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage, has written to the Chancellor urging her to do more to protect hospitality and entertainment venues from recent reforms to the business rates system.

In last year’s Budget, the Chancellor announces a five percent reduction in headline business rates for the hospitality industry. However, when combined with the expiry of pandemic-era reliefs and the latest revaluation of property values, many venues will in fact see their rates go up significantly.

Much of the recent media coverage has concentrated on what these changes will mean for pubs, as some estimates suggest they will face an average rise of 76% over three years. In turn, there have been reports that the Chancellor is preparing a support package for the industry.

However, many are urging the Government to go further than just helping pubs. That includes Dame Caroline, who wrote to the Chancellor expressing concern at what the changes will mean for other hospitality and leisure businesses. In particular, she highlighted the threat to grassroot music venues (discussed previously here), as well as to cinemas, the importance of which was emphasised in the Committee’s recent report on British Film and High End TV.

In her letter, Dame Caroline notes the reports that a package of support for pubs is expected to be announced shortly, but urges the Chancellor to go further and announce measures to assist the wider hospitality and leisure sectors, something the Government has hinted at in recent days.

To read the letter in full, click here.