MP joins cross-party push to keep pubs in business

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has joined a cross party call to protect pubs in the face of the COVID-19 crisis.

Tim, alongside MPs from the Conservative, Labour, SNP, Plaid Cymru and Green parties, is calling for Ministers to ensure pubs are in a position to reopen once social distancing measures are eased.

The group have written to the Chancellor to demand bespoke support for the industry including calls to:

• Scrap the £51,000 Rateable Value cap for pubs, allowing pubs to access the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund.
• Stop pubco landlords from charging rent to their tenants through the crisis.
• Extend the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for the hospitality sector for the duration of social distancing measures and adopt a tailored approach to taper down the scheme in line with the ability of pubs to re-open on a viable basis.

Tim said: "In many towns and villages throughout Cumbria the pub is the hub of community life.

"Right now, many pubs are saddled with enormous rents, payable despite the fact that their doors are closed. On top of this, many are unable to access Government grants because they're based on the broken business rates system. They are on a financial precipice.

"The Chancellor must take radical action to prevent beloved pubs from permanently closing their doors. He must scrap the unfair rates cap that prevents so many pubs from accessing vital funds, and prevent pubco landlords from charging exorbitant rates to their tenants whilst they are unable to open their premises.

"Ministers must act urgently to support our local pubs through the COVID crisis, or risk many of them calling time for good."

Tom Stainer, Chief Executive at CAMRA said: "We welcome this letter, which highlights vital issues facing pubs during the Covid-19 lockdown. It has been estimated that up 19,000 pubs are now at risk of permanent closure as a result of the Covid-19 crisis, which also means that jobs are on the line, and consumers stand to lose out on the social and wellbeing benefits of pub going.

"Up to 20% of pubs may not be eligible for grant support due to their high rateable value - but that doesn't mean they are better able than smaller pubs to weather this storm, so it's imperative that the grant scheme is extended to offer them support.

"CAMRA has also called for pub companies to cancel rent for tenants and is seeking assurances that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be available to pubs and brewers until the end of social distancing measures. We're delighted to see MPs doing the same and applaud their efforts - hopefully, the Government will listen."