Pubs aren’t just places to grab a pint — they’re an essential part of our community; in bringing people together, being a key place of local pride and identity, and in boosting our local economy.
Last year alone, over 400 pubs shut their doors, bringing the total number of pubs in England and Wales to an all-time low of 38,989.
We have moved to provide financial support to retail, hospitality and leisure businesses including pubs (and of course high street shops), with an immediate 40% reduction on business rates, (subject to a £110,000 cap).
A new permanent relief coming in the following year will provide support for 99% of all pubs which have rateable value of less than the £500,000 threshold. That’s real action, long term and targeted, moving away from the year to year sticking plaster approach previously.
Too many of our pubs are unfortunately at risk of disappearing due to rising costs and developers eyeing prime locations. That is why we’re working in Government to go further by protecting these important assets.
In particular, Community Right to Buy would empower local communities by granting them the first right of refusal on valued assets such as pubs when they are put up for sale. This would allow people in our town to have a real stake in our high streets.
Locally we’ve worked to encourage protection of local pubs through the Asset of Community Value process, including the Daisyfield Inn at Bardsley.
When vital community spaces are at risk of being sold, we would give local people the first chance to own them and transfer power back to the people best suited to utilise it. Once communities have control over local assets, they cannot be easily taken away.
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Jim McMahon OBE MP 