The collective want to see the reintroduction of the 12.5% VAT rate for pubs, a reformation of business rates for the long term to stop pubs paying five times more than other sectors on average and cutting beer duty by 5% to create 13,000 jobs.
The BBPA said: “With more than 500 pubs having closed in 2023, it is clear the sector remains in a precarious position, while £1 in every £3 spent in a pub still goes to the taxman. This disproportionate tax burden continues to hold back a sector that creates over 900,000 jobs and provides £26bn of value to the economy.”
Concerned about future
It continued: “With the business rates multiplier for large businesses increasing in April, and beer duty set to increase in August, pubs and brewers are concerned about the future of their businesses and have reached out to the Chancellor as a result.”
The letter sent to Jeremy Hunt and countersigned by dozens of bosses in the hospitality sector highlighted: “There can be no meaningful plan to enhance and encourage local growth and prosperity in the next parliament without the beer and pub sector thriving at the heart of towns, villages and high streets across the home nations.
“Right now, margins throughout the industry remain impossibly tight. In the last year, despite sector specific government support, it is estimated that more than 600 pubs closed – the majority of these permanently.”
12 times more than Germany
It continued: “Despite the most recent freeze to beer duty, the UK average rate of tax is almost three times the European rate, and during the summer Euros 2024 kicking off in June, it will be notable that UK beer duty is 12 times more than that of the hosts Germany.
“We therefore urge you not only to consider freezing beer duty again beyond August, but to cut duty and set out a roadmap to bring the UK duty rate down to the European average.”
The letter concluded: “By underpinning a successful and thriving beer and pub sector, we will provide you the short cut to achieving genuine Levelling Up in every corner of the country.”
The signees are:
Emma McClarkin OBE, chief executive, BBPA
Nick Mackenzie, CEO, Greene King
Jonathan Adnams OBE, chairman, Adnams
Richard Anstee, managing director, Glamorgan Brewing Company
Richard Archer, co-founder and managing director, Utopian Brewing
George Arkell, managing director, Arkells Brewery
Graeme Arnott, Director, Caledonian Heritable
James Arrow, COO, Brewdog
Toby Batholomew, Wadworth & Co
Stuart Bateman, Managing Director, George Bateman & Sons
Timothy Batham, Director, Daniel Batham & Son
Richard Bailey, Chief Executive, Daniel Thwaites PLC
Luke Boase, Founder, and Emma Heal, Managing Director, Lucky Saint
Peter Borg-Neal, Executive Chairman, Oakman Group
Keith Bott, Managing Director, Titanic Brewery
Richard Bradbury, Managing Director and Simon Theakston, Chairman, Theakston Brewery
Jon Bridge, Chief Executive, SA Brains & Company
Mark Brown, Manging Director, Trust Inns
Guillem Castella Gutzeit, General Manager and Director General, Damm 1876 Ltd
Clive Chesser, Chief Executive, Punch Pubs & Co
James Clarke, Managing Director, Hook Norton Brewery
Jason Clarke, Co-Founder, Genius Brewing
Tim Clay, Managing Director, Asahi UK
Sue Copper, Co-Owner, Little Valley Brewing
Mark Crowther, Chairman, Portobello Pub Company
Lewis Cullen, Operations Director, Rosemount Taverns
Paul Thomas Davies, CEO, Carlsberg Marstons Brewing Company
Tom Davies, Chief Executive, WH Brakspear & Sons
Nick Davis, Founder, Hobson Brewery
Mark Derry, Executive Chairman, The Hartwood Company
Nick Desai, Co-Founder, Zerodegrees
Tim Dewey, Chief Executive, Timothy Taylor & Co
Simon Dodd, Chief Executive, Young & Co Brewery
Hamish Elder, Chairman, Harveys Brewery
Roy Ellis, Chief Executive, Mission Mars
Simon Emeny, Chief Executive, Fuller, Smith & Turner Plc
Mike Francis, Managing Director, Felinfoel Brewery
Mike Gammell, Co-Founder, Days Brewing
Richie Gardner, Managing Director, Tavern Prop Co
Gavin George, Chief Executive, Laine Pub Company
Kevin Georgel, Chief Executive Officer, St Austell Brewery
Stephen Gould, Managing Director, Everards Brewery Ltd
Kris Gumbrell, Executive Chairman, Brewhouse & Kitchen
Boudewijn Haarsma, Manging Director, Heineken UK
Jonothan Holden, Managing Director, Holdens Brewery
John Hutson, Chief Executive, JD Weatherspoon
Chris Jowsey, Chief Executive, Admiral Taverns
Matt Kearsey, Managing Director, Hall and Woodhouse
Richard Kershaw, Chief Executive, Joseph Holt Plc
Nicola Kitchener, Chief Executive, Gray & Sons
Jonathan Lawson, Chief Executive, Liberation Group
William Lees Jones, Managing Director, JW Lees & Co
Ian Lennox, Managing Director, Heron & Brearley
Eric Lucas, Managing Director, Daleside Brewery
Charlene Lyons, Chief Executive, Black Sheep Brewery
Jillian MacLean, Founder and Chief Executive, Drake & Morgan
Ed Martin, Director, ETM Group
Adam Mayers, Managing Director, Hydes Brewery
David McGowan, Chief Executive, Broughton Ales
David McDowell, Chief Executive, Stonegate Group
Andrew McKnight, Vice Chairman, Harviestoun Brewery
Patrick McMahon, Chief Executive Officer, C & C Group PLC
Angus McMeeking, Director, Black Country Ales
Tom McMullen and Heydon Mizon, Co-Group Managing Directors, McMullen & Sons
Lawson Mountstevens, Managing Director, Star Pubs & Bars
James Nye, Managing Director, Anglian Country Inns
Emily Palmer Ramus, Chief Executive, Palmers Brewery
Joe Parks, Chief Executive Officer, Woodforde's Brewery
Brian Perkins, President, Western Europe & CEO, Budweiser Brewing Group
Oliver Robinson, Managing Director, (Brewery) and William Robinson, Managing Director (Pubs) Frederic Robinsons Brewery
Ian Rogers, Managing Director, Renegade Brewery
Dougal Sharp, Founder and Chief Executive, Innis & Gunn
Edd Simpson, Managing Director, Ossett Brewery
Chris Soley, Director and General Manager, Camerons Brewery Limited
Jonathan Swaine, Managing Director, Shepherd Neame Ltd
Scott Taylor, Director, Dorbiere Pub Group
Rupert Thompson, Managing Director, Hogs Back Brewery
Nicholas Tucker, Chairman, Heavitree Brewery
Jitka Vlckova, Chief Executive, Budvar UK
Chris Ward, Non-Executive Director, Thomas Hardy Group
Clive Watson, Chairman, City Pub Company
Sarah Weir, Managing Director, Albion & East
Peter Wells, Managing Director, Wells & Co
Philip Whitehead, Managing Director, Molson Coors Western Europe
Nic Wood, Director, Signature Pubs
