Government support package to benefit local pubs 

Local pubs across High Peak are set to benefit from government support package aimed at helping the sector cope with rising costs and other pressures.

The package includes business rates relief, planning reforms, licensing changes, and a review of how pubs are valued for business rates purposes. Under the new measures, the average pub is expected to save an additional £1,650 in 2026/27, with around 75% of pubs seeing their bills fall or remain flat. By 2029, pubs across the country are projected to pay 8% less in business rates than current levels. 

The announcement comes as pubs face significant challenges, with nearly 7,000 closures nationwide since 2010 - a 15% reduction, representing one of the highest rates across the hospitality sector. Locally, pubs are seen as vital community hubs, providing social spaces, supporting local employment and helping maintain the character of towns and villages. 

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “If we're going to restore the pride in our communities, we need our pubs and our high streets to thrive. We're backing British pubs with additional support, and our new High Streets Strategy will help tackle the long-term challenges that our much-loved retail, leisure and hospitality businesses have faced. Thriving local businesses, bustling high streets and pride restored in our communities – that's what this government is delivering." 

The support package includes: 

• A review into how pubs are valued for business rates purposes 

• £10 million over three years through the Hospitality Support Fund to help pubs provide additional community services, such as cafés, village shops, and play areas 

• Planning rule changes to allow pubs to add guest rooms or expand without local applications 

• Extended licensing hours for Home Nations games during the FIFA World Cup 

• Increased temporary event allowances for community and cultural events 

High Peak MP Jon Pearce has met with businesses across High Peak to understand their challenges. He said: “Our pubs are the heart of our communities, and I'm delighted that the Government is backing them with this substantial support package. Last week, I attended Glossop Pub Watch to hear directly from landlords and publicans about the challenges they're facing. 

“It's important to have difficult conversations, and I won't shy away from them. This business rates relief, combined with planning reforms and licensing changes, will give our local pubs the breathing space they need to build sustainable futures while continuing to serve as vital community hubs." 

Glossop publican Philip Healey welcomed the announcement: “Running a pub right now isn't easy - energy costs keep rising, food prices are up, and we're trying to pay our staff what they deserve. 

“When the Budget was announced, I reached out to Jon straight away with my concerns. It's been good to have those honest conversations, and I'm pleased the government is listening and taking action. We're still facing real challenges, but this support is a step in the right direction. I hope this dialogue continues because we need to not just survive but actually grow as an industry." 

This support package follows the £4.3 billion package announced in the November 2025 Budget, which capped business rates increases at 15% for most businesses and included a permanent 5p cut in the business rates multiplier for over 750,000 retail, hospitality, and leisure properties. 

The support package has been met with mixed reactions from pub owners across the UK. Many have welcomed the additional business rates relief as a helpful and much-needed boost at a time of rising energy, staffing and supply costs. For some operators, the measures are seen as providing valuable breathing space and a sign that concerns from the sector are being listened to. 

However, others argue the package does not go far enough, particularly for small independent pubs struggling to survive on tight margins. Industry voices have also pointed out that the challenges facing pubs are part of wider pressures on the entire hospitality sector, with calls for broader, long-term reform rather than short-term relief alone.