Struggling Portsmouth pubs 'could be saved' as government increases business rates discount

In the budget delivered by chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak this afternoon, plans to increase alcohol duties were scrapped, and the business rates discount for pubs was increased from £1,000 to £5,000.

Pub landlords across the Portsmouth area have been buoyed by the announcement, saying this could save the venues ‘on the edge’ of collapse.

Colin Nash, owner of the Milton Arms in Milton Road, Portsmouth, says the budget is ‘really good news’.

He said: ‘For the struggling pubs like us this is a hugely welcome boost.

‘All pubs right across Portsmouth are pretty hard up at the moment but this should help to sort us out.

‘The alcohol duty being frozen is going to have a huge impact for us but the increased business rate discount is even better – that’s what we struggle with the most and it’s the same for other pubs too.

‘You can’t make much money as a pub right now so but hopefully this will help to turn things around.’

Duties were frozen on beer, cider, wine and spirits – with the latter having a planned increase ahead of Mr Sunak’s speech.

For Colin Bull, owner of West Street Ale House in Fareham, the freezing of beer duty will have a huge impact on his micropub.

He said: ‘I think this is fantastic news.

‘It's still early days for us – I’ve only been a landlord for eight months – but the government freezing beer duty is great for us, as is the increase in business rates discount.

‘It's something that will help the bigger places even more, but this is an announcement which will certainly help local landlords.’

The national chairman of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), Nik Antona, added: ‘The abolition of business rates for pubs with a rateable value under £51,000, and the £5,000 discount for those with a value up to £100,000 is great news for qualifying pubs.

‘We feel the decision not to implement a preferential rate of beer duty is a missed opportunity.’