Rising costs for pubs
Loss of community assets if they close
The local pub is more than a pint. It’s our community
Last night, after my regular Friday five-a-side football, a few of us went to a local pub. I bumped into a local resident who was genuinely surprised I remembered their name. It was a small moment, but it stuck with me.
It reminded me why local pubs matter. They are not just places to eat or drink. They are where friendships continue, where neighbours recognise each other, and where people feel part of something wider than their own front door.
That sense of community is now under real pressure. From April, business rates for pubs will rise sharply as rates relief ends and new valuations take effect. Many local pubs face double-digit increases, with some seeing bills rise by several thousand pounds in a single year. At the same time, wage bills are up, national insurance costs have increased, and overall tax on pubs is higher. A pub can look busy and still be under serious financial strain.
If your local pub matters to you, this is the moment to act.
• What would our area lose if this pub was no longer here next Christmas?
• Where would neighbours meet, clubs gather, or friendships carry on?
Every visit this Christmas helps decide whether those doors are still open next year. Have that drink locally. Book that meal locally. Say hello to someone you know, or someone you do not yet know.