UK Government Announces £100m Annual Support for Pubs as Industry Fears Widespread Closures
The UK government is set to unveil a new support package worth around £100m per year for pubs, following widespread warnings of closures and job losses due to recent changes in business rates. The relief package comes after officials admitted they had underestimated the financial impact on the sector.
This move follows concerns over the past year that the industry is struggling to cope with increased costs, including higher employer national insurance contributions, rising minimum wages, energy costs, and inflation. In England and Wales alone, one pub closed every day in 2022 due to these pressures, according to analysis by tax specialist Ryan. The number of pubs has fallen to 38,623 as of 2025, down from 39,989 the previous year.
The government's support package is seen as a significant step forward for the industry, which has been advocating for relief in light of changes to business rates announced in November's budget. While the UKHospitality trade body welcomed this development, the wider hospitality sector remains concerned that similar support measures may not be forthcoming.
In recent weeks, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has acknowledged the challenges faced by pubs and has been working closely with the industry to provide targeted support. This new relief package is expected to address some of these concerns, although it is unclear whether it will be enough to prevent further closures and job losses in the sector.
The government's decision comes after public outcry over the impact of business rates on high streets across the UK. While some have defended the changes as "sensible" and beneficial for struggling areas, others argue that they are having a devastating effect on small businesses and local economies.
The UK government is set to unveil a new support package worth around £100m per year for pubs, following widespread warnings of closures and job losses due to recent changes in business rates. The relief package comes after officials admitted they had underestimated the financial impact on the sector.
This move follows concerns over the past year that the industry is struggling to cope with increased costs, including higher employer national insurance contributions, rising minimum wages, energy costs, and inflation. In England and Wales alone, one pub closed every day in 2022 due to these pressures, according to analysis by tax specialist Ryan. The number of pubs has fallen to 38,623 as of 2025, down from 39,989 the previous year.
The government's support package is seen as a significant step forward for the industry, which has been advocating for relief in light of changes to business rates announced in November's budget. While the UKHospitality trade body welcomed this development, the wider hospitality sector remains concerned that similar support measures may not be forthcoming.
In recent weeks, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has acknowledged the challenges faced by pubs and has been working closely with the industry to provide targeted support. This new relief package is expected to address some of these concerns, although it is unclear whether it will be enough to prevent further closures and job losses in the sector.
The government's decision comes after public outcry over the impact of business rates on high streets across the UK. While some have defended the changes as "sensible" and beneficial for struggling areas, others argue that they are having a devastating effect on small businesses and local economies.
. £100m annual support for pubs might be a drop in the ocean compared to the overall budget, but it's better than nothing, right? Still, I'm not convinced it'll make a dent in the number of closures and job losses we're seeing. The real question is, why did they wait until public outcry got everyone talking before taking action? 
It's like they knew the industry was on its knees and were just waiting for someone to raise the alarm before acting.
. The government might be trying to shore up their popularity with the pub-owning public ahead of the next election. It's all about perception and optics – they're presenting it as a heroic move to save an industry, but what about the long-term solution? Are we just patching up symptoms here rather than tackling the root cause of the problem? 
these business rates changes were super harsh and it's gonna take way longer than just a year for the industry to recover 
we should be seeing more permanent solutions like rent freezes or tax breaks instead of just throwing some money at it 
. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE PUBS THEMSELVES, IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES THAT Rely ON THEM FOR NIGHTLIFE AND ENTERTAINMENT. LET'S HOPE THIS SUPPORT PACKAGE IS ENOUGH TO PREVENT FURTHER CLOSURES AND JOB LOSSES. CHANCELLOR REEVES IS DOING THE RIGHT THING BY WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE INDUSTRY, SO HERE'S TO THAT 
finally some help for these beloved community spots 
I mean, who doesn't love a good pint in their local pub? 
100 million quid might not seem like a lot, but trust me, pubs are bleeding money with all the costs and rates going up 
so every little helps 
let's hope this support package makes a real difference and keeps our local pubs open for years to come 
! I mean, can you imagine being a pub owner trying to keep your business afloat when the government is basically strangling you with higher taxes and rates. It's like they expect you to just magically make money appear out of thin air 
. I've walked through these quaint little towns where the only thing that's still thriving is the pub scene 
. The rest of it is just a ghost town, with empty shops and struggling small businesses. It's heartbreaking.
. This support package might not be enough to save everyone, but it's a start 
. And honestly? I'd rather see some more action than just a token gesture 
the number of pubs closing down daily is insane, and its not just the financial strain that's the issue, its also the emotional toll on owners and staff who are passionate about what they do 
the uk hospitality sector is doing some good work trying to advocate for their members, but we need more than just support packages, were talking about systemic change here 
let's hope it's enough to keep pubs alive and thriving 
I can only imagine how tough it must be for pub owners to deal with all these changes at once... 
They need more than just financial help; they also need our support and understanding as consumers. Let's be honest with ourselves, we're the ones who get to enjoy their food and drinks when they have a thriving business! 
. But now we might see some changes and maybe pubs can finally get the support they need to thrive again? Fingers crossed it's not just a band-aid solution though, they'll probably need more than just £100m to turn things around 
. It'll be interesting to see how this support package plays out in practice