Pubs across Dover and Deal are set to benefit from a 20 per cent cut to their business rates bills from April 2027, saving the typical pub an estimated £1,100 next year, local MP Mike Tapp has announced.
The move forms part of a wider Labour Government plan to support high streets and community venues. Pubs, social clubs, and live music venues across the country will see reduced rates, with nearly 32,000 venues expected to benefit nationally.
Current relief already in place
The government has already granted every pub and live music venue a 15 per cent discount on their new business rates bill and frozen bills in real terms for two further years. However, the new 20 per cent cut goes further, recognising the pressure these businesses have faced.
Mike Tapp MP said: “Pubs bring people together. They are a place to meet family, have celebrations, and catch up with old friends. They provide local jobs, and are crucial to the local economy. But for too long, pubs, social clubs, and live music venues have been replaced by boarded up windows and for sale signs. Businesses need hope, support, and action.”
How the cuts are funded
The government says the cuts will be paid for fairly, including by reviewing reliefs for businesses that do not make a positive contribution to local communities, such as vape shops. Additionally, the government will crack down on businesses that sell through online marketplaces but fail to comply with their tax obligations, putting them at an unfair advantage over compliant businesses.
Revenue raised from these reforms will be reinvested into improvements to the business rates system. The government is consulting on measures to make online marketplaces more responsible for preventing non-compliant sellers from avoiding tax.
Boost for local economy
The new business rate cuts aim to provide much-needed certainty for businesses looking to invest, grow, and create jobs. Mike Tapp said: “This is just one step of the government’s plans to back our communities and high streets. We will return to our commitment to reform the wider business rates system, including Small Business Rates Relief, at the Budget.”
The announcement has been welcomed by pub landlords and community leaders in Dover and Deal, who see it as a lifeline for venues that have struggled with rising costs and changing consumer habits.
