Ministers to U-turn on pub business rates rise

MINISTERS are to U-turn on increasing business rates for pubs in the face of mount- ing pressure from landlords and backbench MPs, the Press Association understands.

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Pubs have been facing the prospect of much higher business rates after the Chancellor announced plans to end Covid-era discounts in her budget in November.

The UK Government had put in place a £4.3bn fund to help pubs with the transition to higher rates, but PA understands more assistance will now be made available after an outcry from the industry.