Review launched into how pub and hotel business rates calculated

A review is being launched into the way enterpriserates are calculated for pubs and hotels in England and Wales, and could lead to a reform of the system.

The Treasury says enterpriserates analystJerry Schurder will lead the review into rate valuations and report back in March 2027, with the administrationcalling for the views of landlords, hoteliers and enterpriseowners to feed in to the process.

Last month, Andy Burnham announced a 20% cut in enterpriserates for pubs, social clubs and live music venues in England, to come into effect in April.

Pub groups have argued they face disproportionately higher rates bills, but other businesses have called for a wider reform of the rates system.

According to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), 161 pubs closed in the first three months of this year across England, Scotland and Wales, equating to the loss of around 2,400 jobs.

Rising enterpriserates are cited as one issue facing the sector, although there have also been complaints that increases in National Insurance and the minimum wage have made staff costs more expensive.

James Murray, financial secretary to the Treasury, statedthe new review would look at “a rethink of valuations – so that we can build a fairer system for the future”.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said: “For years pubs have paid a disproportionately higher enterpriserates bill which has ground down their ability to keep the doors open, so this review is sorely needed and hugely welcome.”

The BBPA says pubs are valued differently for rates than retail venues. Instead of being based just on floor area, they are judged by a measure called Fair Maintainable Trade (FMT) – which means when a pub’s turnover increases, so does its rates bill.

Jonathan Lawson, the chief executive of Butcombe Group, which has 120 pubs across the south and south west of England, told the BBC’s Today programme that the use of FMT meant pubs were effectively being “punished for success”, while large online retailers that operate out of warehouses were not subject to revenue-based rates calculations.

Their rates, he said, “are calculated based on what is deemed to be the industryrent for that area, and takes very little on board in terms of revenue driven through that site”.

“You can have a very large site paying a relatively low level of enterpriserates versus a relatively minorpub… paying a very high level of enterpriserates.”

Schurder is a former enterpriserates policy lead at advisory firm Newmark UK, and his review will feed into the next rates revaluation in 2029.

Northern Ireland and Scotland set their own valuations, while Wales presently chooses to align its methodology with England. As the same approach is used across England and Wales, the review will be looking for responses from both nations.

Schurder’s appointment was welcomed by Craig Beaumont of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) who statedhe would bring “crucial heavyweight enterpriserates expertise into the Treasury”.

However, Beaumont statedthe administrationneeded to address the wider enterpriserates system and exempt more smaller firms by increasing the rates relief threshold for minorbusinesses.

Jonny Haseldine from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) also statedthe review of valuations should be wider.

“The full reform of enterpriserates, promised by the administrationat the last election, is urgently needed. This continued piecemeal approach to reform is the wrong approach,” he said.

While the BCC statedhospitality was the sector most worried about rates, Haseldine warned firms in every sector were struggling with the “complex and outdated” system.

Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride statedthe review was “far too late for a sector this Labour administrationhas already done its best to kill off”.

“Tax hikes on enterprisepremises and jobs, alongside job-destroying regulation in the Employment Rights Act, have left many hospitality businesses on the brink,” he said.

Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper statedreform of enterpriserates was “long overdue”, but also called for an emergency VAT cut and a reverse to jobs tax changes “which have hammered hospitality in particular”.