Health and fitness clubs face a New Year headache as they are battered by Labour’s tax hikes.
Gyms, pools and leisure centres traditionally see a spike in business in January but are also bracing for higher costs in the wake of the Chancellor’s Budget.
Firms reeling from the rise in National Insurance face another inflation-busting hike in the minimum wage and higher business rates bills.
Turmoil: Health and fitness clubs face a New Year headache as they are battered by Labour’s tax hikes
They face rate hikes of up to 60 per cent, according to the sector’s trade body, UKActive.
Clive Chesser, chief executive of PureGym, said: ‘The Budget represents a missed opportunity to address the fundamental problem with the way rates are calculated by shifting some of the disproportionately high burden from bricks-and-mortar businesses on to online retailers.
‘This is a fairer approach and is what the Government pledged to do.’
Huw Edwards, chief executive of UK Active, said: ‘The increases risk forcing up prices for consumers at a time of huge public need for health and fitness services.’
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