Business Rates
We provide essential coverage of business rates policy and reform, and how it impacts operators across the UK foodservice and hospitality sector. From government relief schemes and revaluation updates to lobbying efforts led by UKHospitality and industry coalitions, this captures the key developments influencing site viability and cost pressures. Whether you run a single high-street restaurant or oversee a multi-site pub or catering group, we explain how changes to the business rates system affect your bottom line, and what you need to know to plan ahead.
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Dec- 2025 -9 DecemberFood and Drink
XP Factory HY revenues rise 13% to £28m despite ‘subdued’ market
XP Factory has reported that group revenues rose 13.1% to £28.2m for the 26-week period ended 28 September, citing resilient trading across its Escape Hunt and Boom Battle Bar brands despite a weaker leisure market. During the period, Escape Hunt owner-operated revenues increased to £7.3m, while Boom owner-operated revenues reached…
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8 DecemberBusiness
Small venues face £318m rise in business rates by 2029, UKH warns
Small hospitality venues face a £318m rise in business rates over the next three years, according to analysis from UKHospitality, which says the increases will outweigh more than half of the £634m typically spent each year on Small Business Saturday (6 December). The organisation said properties with a rateable value…
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5 DecemberBusiness
Hospitality business rates to jump 80% in Wales by 2029, UKH warns
Hospitality businesses in Wales face an 80% rise to £131m in business rates by 2028/29 after being excluded from the Welsh government’s reform plans, according to analysis by UKHospitality Cymru. The industry body said its modelling shows bills would increase by £19.6m in 2026/27, by £43.3m in 2027/28 and by…
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Nov- 2025 -27 NovemberTrade Associations
Hospitality warns of ‘mounting pressures’ amid Budget measures
Hospitality and high street groups have warned that the autumn Budget announcement will place renewed pressure on pubs, restaurants, night-time venues and accommodation providers, despite the government confirming a 5p reduction in the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure business rates multiplier. Industry bodies said wage increases, tax measures and steep rises…
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26 NovemberTrade Associations
Hospitality faces £1.4bn in extra wage costs from April 2026, UKH warns
Hospitality businesses face about £1.4bn in additional wage costs from April 2026 following new increases to statutory pay rates, according to industry body UKHospitality. The organisation said the rises make full business rates reform “critical” for the sector ahead of today’s Budget announcement. It comes as the government confirmed that…
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24 NovemberBusiness
Hospitality leaders’ confidence hits five-year low ahead of Budget
Hospitality leaders’ confidence in their business outlook has fallen to its lowest level in five years as rising costs and weaker consumer spending place fresh strain on pubs, bars and restaurants, according to CGA by NIQ and Sona. The latest Business Confidence Survey found that just 26% of leaders feel…
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19 NovemberTrade Associations
Hospitality groups warn of more job losses without Budget support
More than half of hospitality businesses say they will be forced to cut staff or raise prices if next week’s Budget (26 November) does not provide additional support, according to a new survey of sector members. The poll by UKHospitality, the British Institute of Innkeeping, the British Beer and Pub…
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12 NovemberBusiness
BII calls on govt to reduce pub sales VAT to 10%
Steve Alton, CEO of the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII), has written to chancellor Rachel Reeves calling upon her to permanently reduce VAT on pub sales to 10% at the budget. Alton said that this move would boost resilience, create jobs, enable investment and minimise price rises for consumers. He…
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11 NovemberRestaurants
Hospitality job losses deepen ahead of Budget
Employment in the UK hospitality sector has fallen for 13 consecutive months, with new ONS data revealing the industry continues to bear the brunt of a wider jobs downturn. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show 170,000 fewer people are on payroll compared with the period before last year’s…
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10 NovemberRestaurants
345 hospitality businesses urge tax cuts ahead of Budget
More than 340 leading hospitality businesses have signed an open letter to the chancellor calling for urgent action in the upcoming Budget to support the sector. The letter, coordinated by trade body UKHospitality, is backed by companies including Butlin’s, Greene King, IHG Hotels and Resorts, KFC, Merlin Entertainments, Marston’s, Wagamama,…
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