Hospitality faces rates hike at exactly the wrong time

The Welsh Government's Final Budget confirms that many small businesses across North Wales are heading for sharp increases in non-domestic rates at exactly the wrong time.

- Michael Learmond Senior Development Manager - Wales FSB

With costs still high, footfall fragile and confidence weak, these changes risk undermining the very town centres ministers say they want to protect.

FSB Wales analysis shows that a typical small retail business faces a rates rise of around 18 per cent once revaluation, new multipliers and the loss of reliefs are taken together.

For hospitality and leisure businesses, the picture is far worse. A small restaurant or café could see bills rise by more than 40 per cent, while some medium-sized independents face increases of up to 70 per cent over the coming years.