Government publicizes main help bundle for struggling pubs being unveiled TODAY
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is responding to pressure to back the country’s boozers as closures mount up, with 188 pubs lost in the final three months of last year
The Chancellor has said she has listened to struggling publicans(Image: Getty Images)
One of Rachel Reeves’s Treasury ministers has announced a package of support for Britain’s under-pressure pubs will be unveiled today.
It is expected to focus on business rates, with landlords and industry leaders warning a hike in April would trigger a wave of closures. It was reported today the Treasury’s support will be worth around £100million-a-year for pubs and a shake-up of licensing rules.
Pubs are facing a hike in bills in April with an upcoming shake-up of business rates and the phasing out of Covid-era discounts – announced at November’s Budget. But earlier this month the government confirmed it would water down the plans with Ms Reeves insisting she had heard the plight of publicans and is ready to act.
READ MORE: Worrying number of pubs closing every day as Labour under pressure to act
Details of the lifeline package will be set out in a Commons statement from Treasury Minister Dan Tomlison around 1.30pm. He told MPs this morning: “I will be making a statement to the House later this afternoon on a package of support relating to business rates with a particular focus on pubs.
“As previously announced we’re introducing a support package worth £4.3billion to support rate payers”.
The announcement is set to prove a victory for the Mirror’s Your Pub Needs You campaign.
It comes as new figures revealed that another 188 pubs were lost in the final three months of 2025. The vast majority – 123 – were what were classed as community pubs, including many that still rely on drinks sales to survive. The number of food-led pubs fell by 56, along with nine high street sites, according to a report from NIQ and CGA intelligence.
But the Chancellor may still face pressure to support the wider hospitality sector, with some Labour MPs calling for help for struggling music venues.
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