Fears salons could shut for good as business rates bite

STRUGGLING beauty salons are demanding that extensions to business rates support are applied to them.

- By CHRIS DORRELL

Victoria Brownlie, of the British Beauty Council, said without help firms may “pull down their shutters for good”.

Profitability at hair and beauty salons had been “hollowed out” by spiralling labour costs and utility bills, with looming changes to business rates set to add further costs, Ms Brownlie added.

The intervention is the latest from the retail and hospitality sector on the back of the government’s attempt to reform business rates.