Meriden and Solihull East MP Saqib Bhatti has called on the government to go “a lot faster and further” in its financial support for village pubs, warning that many watering holes in his constituency are at risk of closure. Speaking in a Westminster Hall debate on June 17, Bhatti listed several pubs that could form a pub crawl in his area, including The Malt Shovel in Barston, The Queen’s Head in Meriden, The White Lion in Hampton in Arden, The Boat in Catherine-de-Barnes, The Railway Inn and The Forest in Dorridge, and The Red Lion in Knowle.
Economic and community impact
Bhatti noted that there are almost 40 local pubs in his constituency, supporting 1,740 jobs. Across the wider West Midlands, more than 4,000 rural pubs employ 88,000 people and contribute £2.9 billion to the economy. He described these pubs as “vital parts of the fabric of our rural communities” beyond their economic impact.
Rising closures and job losses
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) reported that 161 pubs closed in the first three months of this year across England, Scotland and Wales, a rate of two per day. This led to a loss of around 2,400 jobs during the period. Bhatti expressed concern that government policies, including the rise in national insurance contributions, are exacerbating the situation for rural pubs nationally.
Government response and relief schemes
Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Dan Tomlinson MP responded in the debate, highlighting the rural rates relief scheme available to pubs in villages with populations of 3,000 or less. He noted that a couple of thousand businesses across the country use this scheme, which also covers shops, and encouraged MPs to make local businesses aware of it.
Call for more action
Closing the debate, Bhatti said: “Hospitality is crying out for more breathing space. The government need to go a lot faster and a lot further. Not doing anything is also a decision and will have huge impacts because more and more pubs will go under.”
