Punch Pubs CEO – we urge the chancellor to act swiftly to prevent irreversible damage to our industry: Andy Spencer, chief executive of Punch Pubs & Co, has written to the chancellor to express concern about the impact the recent budget will have on the hospitality sector, and pubs in particular, and urged her to “to act swiftly to prevent irreversible damage to our industry”. Spencer wrote: “We entered this budget process with the expectation that your government would recognise the significant challenges currently impacting Great British pubs, and uphold your manifesto commitment to support the sector, and ‘level the playing field between the high street and online giants’. Regrettably, this budget introduces additional costs and challenges for an industry that is already experiencing material challenges, leaving publicans facing significant financial and mental strain. The most pressing issue is business rates. The revaluation from April 2026 has wiped out any benefit from the reduced multiplier of 5p, leaving pubs facing eye-watering increases. Across our estate of 1,300 community pubs, we will see a significant rise in rates payable, even with the reduced multiplier and transitional relief. UKHospitality analysis shows that by 2028/29, rates payable for pubs will have increased by 76%, compared to just 4% for large supermarkets and 16% for online distribution warehouses. This is not levelling the playing field; it is tilting it further against community pubs and our high streets. We repeatedly warned that the pandemic’s impact on previous valuations would uniquely disadvantage hospitality businesses. The decision not to implement the maximum permitted discount of 20p for hospitality properties, as allowed by law, means many publicans will face harsh financial choices, forcing them to pull back on investment when they should be focusing on growing their businesses, creating meaningful employment opportunities and delivering sustainable tax receipts for the Treasury. Transitional relief, whilst welcome, will merely delay the impact of cost increases, draining any recovery in confidence as support tapers away and huge increases bite. Alongside this, the sector faces further rising employment costs, a punitive holiday tax, heightened energy bills and a further 3.66% increase in alcohol duty from February 2026, with no uplift in draught relief. These additional pressures compound the challenge for operators already working on tight margins. Even prior to this latest hammer blow, increasing expenses and high taxes have meant that only 12p from the typical £4.80 selling price of a pint goes to profit. Pubs are more than businesses; they are vital social hubs at the heart of communities. If your government is serious about supporting growth, protecting jobs and upholding your manifesto commitment to our sector, urgent action is needed to revisit the rates multiplier discount for pubs. Increasing the discount from 5p to 20p with immediate effect and delaying the business rates revaluations for the hospitality sector until the end of this revaluation term would deliver meaningful relief and help safeguard thousands of pubs across the UK. We urge you to act swiftly to prevent irreversible damage to our industry and to ensure that your government’s commitment to fairness and community prosperity is upheld. The alternative is closures, with committed hospitality professionals and communities bearing the brunt.”

 

Workers could be awarded unlimited compensation for unfair dismissal: Workers could be awarded unlimited compensation for unfair dismissal in a deal to appease unions over changes to Labour’s employment rights reforms. Bosses were likely to be “more cold blooded” during probation periods, employment experts warned, if the cap for fines levied on employers was scrapped. Ministers want to ditch the £118,000 limit for compensation after they watered down plans to give workers protection against unfair dismissal from the first day of employment, reports The Times. Last week, the government said it now intended to introduce that right after six months of service. Other day one rights, to parental leave and sick pay, are set to go ahead. Under a separate compromise with Angela Rayner, the former deputy prime minister who led the reforms, Peter Kyle, the business secretary, will speed up the implementation of the unfair dismissal protection. It will come into effect on 1 January 2027. Rayner said: “Workers recruited in July 2026 will automatically get protections from unfair dismissal when the law comes into force.” The bill, Labour’s workers’ rights package, has been caught in a stand-off between peers and MPs over the original plan to give workers the protection on day one, as well as measures to ban “exploitative” zero-hours contracts. It was hoped that backing down on day one rights against unfair dismissal would help break the deadlock. Currently, workers can be awarded either their annual salary or up to £118,233 – whichever is lower – in compensation if they win a claim for unfair dismissal. However, government sources said most awards tended to be far below the cap. Kyle is set to lay out changes to the bill when it returns to parliament on Monday. Andrew Griffith, the shadow business secretary, said: “Moving to unlimited payouts at employment tribunals is the sort of out-of-touch idea which this government seems to specialise in. It would benefit higher-paid workers the most but be a huge burden on the tribunal system and businesses alike.”

Pubs could serve pints until 1am if England reach World Cup quarter finals: Pubs could be allowed to serve pints until 1am if England reach the quarter finals of the World Cup next year. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood wants to extend opening hours if the Three Lions, or any home nation, reach the quarters, semis or final. The proposed rules will allow pubs in England and Wales to stay open until 2am for games that kick off before 9pm. For games that start later, pubs will have to apply for permission, reports The Daily Mail. Games at the 2026 tournament are likely to kick off later to help players cope with the heat in the US, Canada and Mexico. They could start as late as 2am UK time. Lawson Mounststevens, managing director of Heineken's Star Pubs, which runs 2,400 licensed premises in the UK, said: “Big set piece events like the World Cup are massive for bringing people together and should be a huge boost for the economy. Typically, we see trade increase by over 20 per cent during these tournaments. Extended hours will be welcomed by publicans across the country and we're all hoping England progress deep into the tournament. If you can’t be at the games, nothing beats watching them in your local with a great pint.” Emma McClarkin, of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “The pub has and always will be the home of live sport and there's no better place to gather under one roof during moments of huge national significance and make memories. Our sector plays a huge part in boosting community spirit and extending licensing hours will mean that people can gather for longer at their local to cheer on our brilliant teams.” Opening times were loosened for the women’s Euros final this year and in 2022, as well as the men’s Euros final last year. A six-week consultation on the proposals for next year started yesterday. Mahmood said: “Our nation’s pubs are going into extra time. This World Cup could be the first in over 60 years with every home nation there. The party won’t end before the final whistle is blown.”