Starmer's plan to extend opening hours is a con, say pub bosses

REDUCING TAX BURDEN WOULD BE MORE HELP

- By LYNETTE PINCHESS

PUB owners have branded Sir Keir Starmer's plans to extend opening hours a “con” and a “distraction”.

The Government says proposed changes to licensing rules would boost trade and allow pubs to thrive.

However, landlords said the plans fail to address the real financial issues which are driving eight pubs a week to close in the UK and that reducing VAT on hospitality, cutting National Insurance contributions and energy bills, and axing business rates would make more sense.

David Hage, the co-owner of four award-winning gastro pubs including The Railway at Lowdham and The Plough at Normanton-on-the-Wolds, said: “I welcome any genuine effort to support the Great British Pub - but let's be clear, the government's latest announcement to extend pub opening hours is nothing more than a distraction.

“This move is being sold as 'help for hospitality' but it's a red herring and a con designed to make it look as though the Government is listening to our industry, when in reality it's doing very little to address the real problems we face.

“Since the pandemic, hospitality has changed dramatically. Drinking habits have shifted; customers now prefer to come out earlier and head home earlier. The days of late-night drinking being a major driver of trade are largely gone. Most pubs already have the licences they need to stay open late - so for 95 percent venues across the UK, these 'extended hours' will make absolutely no difference.

“What the Government fails to understand is that our industry isn't struggling because of a lack of hours, it's struggling because of costs that have spiralled out of control. They're additional taxes on us.”