Publicans across the South West are urging the government to ease mounting financial pressures ahead of the Budget, warning the sector is at a "critical tipping point".
Rising costs and increased taxation are threatening the survival of thousands of pubs, according to a number of pub landlords from across the region.
Kevin Georgel, chief executive of St Austell Brewery, which operates 164 pubs across the West of England, says the government "must act" to keep a pint of beer affordable, protect jobs and ensure pubs remain open.
“Our sector contributes tens of billions to the economy, yet pubs are under increasing pressure from unsustainable tax burdens," he said.
“Business rates are the most pressing issue - relief was cut from 75% to 40% at the last Budget, adding thousands of pounds to annual rates bills. We need meaningful reform that works for businesses, not against them."
The warning comes as the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) predicts more than one pub will close every day in 2025 - an estimated 378 closures across England, Wales and Scotland.
Damian and Miranda Knight have run pubs with St Austell Brewery for 12 years and are the current publicans of the Cornubia Inn and the Royal Standard Inn in Hayle, Cornwall. Despite bouncing back after Covid, Mr Knight says the current financial strain is "unprecedented".
“The spring budget changes, with business rate relief decreasing and National Insurance increasing, has been extremely tough," he said. "Our sales are up year on year but turning that into profit is the struggle.
“Everywhere we look, costs are rising. At the Cornubia, our live music nights are popular, but hiring a band costs more, karaoke fees have gone up, and our wage bill has soared.”
Adam Holland and Natalie Radford, who run the Blue Ball Inn in Exeter, have 33 staff on the payroll and agree the National Insurance increases have been "really challenging".
“We’re not like supermarkets that can raise prices and people will pay because they need essentials," said Mr Holland. "We can’t keep hitting our customers with higher costs. Pubs are the centre of communities, and these are very challenging times.”
St Austell Brewery is backing the BBPA’s Long Live the Local campaign, which is calling on the government to ease financial pressures on pubs, including beer duty, business rates and VAT.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will set out her Autumn Budget in Parliament on Wednesday, November 26.
