Last week, the Scottish Conservatives launched the “Save Our Pubs” campaign. This is in light of the Scottish Government’s proposed business rates revaluations that will impose further crippling tax rises on hospitality businesses.
Pubs are already facing the combined consequences of the UK Government’s increases to national insurance contributions, rising energy costs and its subsequent impact on consumer behaviour. In addition, these revaluations will cost the average pub in Scotland £36,523 over the next three years. Publicans are now rightly fearful that these additional costs could prove terminal.
This attack on hospitality businesses is nothing new; the Scottish Government has been generating uncertainty and increasing costs on pubs for a very long time. But what it does mean is that pubs now have very little resilience remaining to absorb any further shocks. Pubs in Scotland are already closing at an average rate of one every week and at a 50% higher rate than we are seeing south of the border.
Pub closures will be particularly bruising for communities in rural areas who have already borne the brunt of closures in other areas such as schools and newsagents. In some cases, the local pub is the last place remaining place for social gatherings in an otherwise isolated community. It would be a tragedy if last orders were given not because of lack of demand, but merciless and hostile government policy.
The Scottish Conservatives are calling on the SNP to pause the implementation of the 2026 revaluations until a full comprehensive review of the valuation methodology is complete. Moreover, we want to deliver 100% rates relief for all hospitality businesses with commercial property value up to £100,000. These are the only measures that will save our local pubs from imminent closure.
The situation for pubs could not be more serious and unless we see a major change in direction from the Scottish Government, businesses and jobs will be lost. I will continue to do all I can to stand up for pubs across Perth and Kinross.
