Royal Dyche landlady Justine Bedford reveals fears of business rates relief cut ahead of Budget

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An award-winning Burnley pub landlady has spoken of her fear ahead of tomorrow’s Budget and what it might mean for the industry.

Justine Bedford, who runs The Royal Dyche in Yorkshire Street, was speaking to the Burnley Express before the new Labour Government’s first Budget on Wednesday when Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to introduce a raft of cost-saving measures, which could include the ending of business rates relief.

She was speaking as David McDowall, the boss of the Stonegate Group, which operates several national chain pubs, said that thousands of landlords currently make just 12p of profit for every pint of beer they sell.

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Justine, who in June was named as the Licensee of the Year by the British Institute of Innkeeping, has been one of Burnley’s most successful licensees in recent years establishing the pub as a firm favourite, escpecially with match-going Clarets fans, but is still concerned about the long-term future of the industry.

Award-winning landlady Justine Bedford of The Royal Dyche has spoken of her fears ahead of Labour's first BudgetAward-winning landlady Justine Bedford of The Royal Dyche has spoken of her fears ahead of Labour's first Budget
Award-winning landlady Justine Bedford of The Royal Dyche has spoken of her fears ahead of Labour's first Budget

She said: “I 100% agree (with Stonegate group’s David McDowall), the 75% business rates relief has been a huge help for my pub. It’s enabled me to keep my pricing competitive and also invest money back into my business.

“The hospitality industry has been rapidly declining in numbers, the sector is crying out for more support rather than take it away.

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“According to The Morning Advertiser, more than 450 pubs closed in the first six months of 2024 and the North-West region was hit the hardest.

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“These figures are a reminder of the reality pubs are facing and taking away the support it currently has will only put all these businesses in a difficult situation.

“The decision will risk site closures, job cuts and investment pulled. It was only a few years ago that Labour said they are going to fully reform the business rates system. Waiting to scrap the relief until then would make a huge difference.”

Government support on business rates for the hospitality sector in England and Wales is set to run out in April, which if removed, could mean small publicans see their business rates bill quadruple according to Mr McDowall.

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