Burnham wants Big Ecommerce to bankroll Britain’s pubs
The UK government plans to cut business rates by 20 per cent for pubs, social clubs and live music venues in England from April 2027. It intends to help fund the measure by tightening VAT compliance among third-party sellers on online marketplaces, reflecting Andy Burnham’s campaign for online retail to contribute more towards struggling high streets.
The relief package is valued at about £100 million annually and is expected to benefit nearly 32,000 venues. Ministers will consult on making platforms such as Amazon, eBay, Etsy and Temu more responsible for sellers’ unpaid VAT, but no firm tax proposals have yet been announced; wider business-rates reforms are expected at the Budget.
- Pubs and venues are promised 20 per cent business-rates relief from 2027.
- Online marketplaces may face stronger VAT compliance duties.
- The package could support nearly 32,000 English venues.