Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tolhurst has welcomed the announcements in the Budget that were supportive for local pubs.
The freeze in beer duty announced by the Chancellor means that a pint is now 11p cheaper than it would have been under Labour’s plans.
This is great news for the pubs of Rochester and Strood after a succession of closures over recent years. Importantly, it will allow more communities and visitors to enjoy the social benefits and atmosphere that is created within our local pubs, thus providing the opportunity to survive.
Figures from the British Beer and Pub Association show that 81% of pubs will benefit from either the small business multiplier or small business rate relief or both, and that on average pubs will be better off by £1,100 per year.
It is measures like these that will halt the trend of closures across Rochester and Strood and even encourage former pubs to reopen. This includes the 300-year-old pub The Royal Oak in Cooling Road which campaigners – including Kelly Tolhurst MP – are fighting hard to save from destruction and give back to the community.
Inspiration can already be taken from the White Horse in Borstal which was saved a couple of years back from permanent closure and refurbished by two local residents to keep it flourishing for years to come.
The beer duty freeze announced in this year’s Budget comes after three successive cuts to beer duty by Chancellor George Osborne in the last three years, and the scrapping of the beer duty escalator which increased the duty on a pint every year.
Rochester’s MP, Kelly Tolhurst, said: “I am pleased that this Government has re-emphasised its commitment to helping our community pubs.
“Rochester and Strood has sadly seen the closure of many of our much-loved pubs, but through this continued support we can work towards bringing many back from the brink, such as The Royal Oak.
Community pubs are important assets to our towns and villages and provide a vital social space for locals and their families, which is a value worth fighting for.”
The Chancellor’s announcement on changes to business rates also means that from April 2017, overall pubs will be better off by an average of £1,100 per year, and over 16,500 will pay no business rates at all, some 40% of the total.
Prime Minister David Cameron also announced at Prime Minister’s Questions last week that pubs would be allowed extended opening hours to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday.