The Government should offer pubs tax rebates and appoint a minister responsible for a long term-strategy for the sector, a report by think-tank Localis has argued.
The report’s proposals include a cross-government taskforce for pubs, with a revamped pubs minister role at the head, and an emergency fund available to pubs in deprived areas for energy bill support.
The Government should fund local authorities to provide partial business rebates for pubs that diversify to take on ‘socially valuable’ roles, the report also said.
Pub is The Hub chief executive John Longden said pubs were a ‘lifeline’ for many rural areas, providing local services including village stores, allotments and community cafes.
According to polling undertaken by YouGov for the report, 75% of British adults said pubs have a positive impact on community life and 68% said they felt that pubs help combat loneliness in their local area.
Localis head of research Joe Fyans said: ‘The lessons are clear: pubs, in all their forms and across all locations, remain integral to British social cohesion as hubs of activity, community, and social capital.’
British Beer and Pub Association chief executive Emma McClarkin said: ‘With closures continuing to rise and pubs under threat from further duty and business rates cost hikes, we hope the Government will seriously consider the proposals put forward by this report.’
If this article was of interest, then check out, 'Why the planning system is failing our pubs'.
