Burnham confirms 20% business‑rates cut for pubs and music venues, excluding cafés and restaurants

Andy Burnham has confirmed that pubs, clubs and live music venues in England will receive a 20% cut in business rates from April, while cafés and restaurants will not be included in the new relief.

The Government says the measure will support almost 32,000 hospitality businesses, with a typical pub expected to save around £1,100 a year. Ministers argue the targeted discount is designed to protect venues that play a central role in local communities and have faced sustained financial pressure. The largest live‑music venues will be excluded.

Funding for the relief will come from a review of business tax breaks for sectors deemed to have limited community benefit, including vape shops, alongside a crackdown on companies selling through online marketplaces that fail to meet tax obligations.

Cafés and restaurants will not receive the 20% reduction. Treasury officials have indicated that wider reforms affecting hotels, restaurants and cafés may be considered ahead of the Autumn Budget, but no additional support has been announced.

Industry groups welcomed the move as a positive step for pubs and grassroots venues, while urging ministers to deliver broader, long‑term reform of the business‑rates system.