Monday 24 August 2026 5:30 am
| Updated:
Sunday 23 August 2026 12:38 pm
The review will look to make reforms on how the business rates are calculated.
The Treasury has launched a review into how business rates are calculated for pubs and hotels, with aim to making recommendations to reform the system. Launched on Monday, the government said the review will “look at improving fairness for businesses” and “working with them to ensure the system is fair and transparent, and ensure pubs and hotels can plan better for the future.” The government is also launching a call for evidence from landlords, brewers, hoteliers and business owners on the current system. The move comes after Burnham announced a 20 per cent slash to business rates bills for pubs, clubs, and venues at the end of July, due to apply from April next year.The government said the £100m commitment will be funded by cracking down on businesses such as vape shops which “do not make a positive contribution to local communities.” No 10 said it will look to set out further reform, including small business rates relief, in the autumn Budget.“Last month we announced tax cuts for pubs to give them the breathing room they need. Today we’re going further with a rethink of valuations – so that we can build a fairer system for the future,” James Murray, financial secretary to the Treasury said. Murray added that pubs and hotels “are vital for communities and bringing growth to every postcode.” ‘Business rates guru’ to lead review The Treasury said it has enlisted a “business rates guru”, Jerry Schruder, to lead the independent review and look at making changes to the system, reporting back to the government by the end of March 2027. Schruder, a former business rates policy lead at advisory group Newmark UK, said he plans to “assess how the current valuation methodologies for pubs and hotels operate in practice and whether they remain fit for purpose.” “Stakeholder evidence and engagement will be central to informing the review’s recommendations,” Schruder said.
