Swansea BID welcomes new rates relief — but CAMRA warns support still falls short for struggling pubs

The Welsh Government announced the support package on 3 February, following months of pressure from businesses, industry bodies and local leaders who warned that Welsh pubs and restaurants were being left behind compared with support available in England.

Swansea BID Manager Andrew Douglas said the move would offer “meaningful, immediate” help for venues battling rising costs.

“We welcome the Welsh Government’s decision to provide a 15% reduction in business rates for hospitality businesses,” he said.

“While the sector continues to face real cost pressures, this measure represents a necessary and targeted response, and it will provide meaningful, immediate transitional support for restaurants, pubs and live music venues across Swansea.”

Douglas said the decision followed sustained lobbying from Swansea businesses.

“This reflects the strength of the case consistently put forward on behalf of the city’s businesses. Through Swansea BID, and by working closely alongside the CBI, we have been clear about the challenges facing Swansea’s hospitality sector and the need for targeted relief. I’m pleased those representations have been listened to.”

CAMRA: “Pubs still face closure”

But the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has warned that the relief does not go far enough to protect Welsh pubs already on the brink.

CAMRA has repeatedly said that a 15% discount still leaves Welsh venues at a disadvantage compared with England, where hospitality businesses receive 75% rates relief. The group has warned that without stronger support, more pubs will shut their doors in the coming months.

In recent weeks, Swansea Bay News has reported on a string of closures and near‑misses across the region, including two much‑loved Llanelli restaurants shutting on the same day and the collapse of Swansea’s Founders & Co before a last‑minute rescue.

Sector still under pressure

Hospitality leaders say the new Welsh Government package is welcome but only a temporary fix for a sector hit by rising energy bills, higher supplier costs and fragile consumer spending.

The relief will apply from April, covering the 2025/26 financial year.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

CAMRA warns Welsh pubs still face closure despite new business rates relief
Pub campaigners say temporary support is not enough to protect venues under pressure.

Welsh Government announces new rates relief for pubs and restaurants
Ministers unveil a 15% discount following concerns over the gap with England.

Swansea councillor warns Welsh pubs risk being left behind
Local leaders say the sector needs stronger, long‑term support.

Founders & Co saved as new owner steps in after collapse
A major Swansea venue is rescued after its parent company goes under.

Swansea’s Founders & Co owner to file for administration
The city’s hospitality sector faces fresh uncertainty as another operator hits trouble.

Two much‑loved Llanelli restaurants close on the same day
Customers share heartbreak as more local venues shut their doors.

CAMRA warns Welsh pubs still face closure despite new business rates relief

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) said the one‑year discount, unveiled by the Finance Secretary this afternoon, was welcome but nowhere near enough to stop more pubs shutting their doors.

The intervention comes after Swansea Bay News revealed growing anger from local councillors and business owners who warned that Welsh pubs were being left behind compared with England, where support is far more generous.

CAMRA Wales Director Chris Charters said the new relief “is only the start”, warning that many pubs will still see their bills rise sharply because of the recent rates revaluation.

“Today’s announcement that pubs will get 15% off their business rates bills is a welcome step,” he said. “However, many pubs still face big hikes in their bills due to the rates revaluation which could still lead to more of our locals in Wales being forced to close for good.”

Charters said the temporary discount does nothing to fix what he called an “unfair” system that leaves pubs struggling to compete with supermarkets and online retailers.

“Fifteen percent off for a year won’t fix the unfair business rates system our pubs are being crushed by,” he said. “Whoever forms the next Welsh Government must commit to proper reform by introducing a permanently lower business rates system for pubs.”

He warned that without long‑term change, communities will continue to lose vital social hubs that help tackle loneliness and isolation.

“Welsh publicans need a permanent solution, or doors will continue to close and communities will be shut away from these essential social hubs,” he said.

The Welsh Government’s announcement follows weeks of pressure from the hospitality sector and local politicians, including warnings that the widening gap with England’s support package was putting Welsh pubs at a competitive disadvantage.

Industry groups say the revaluation has hit many pubs particularly hard, with some facing increases of thousands of pounds even after the new discount is applied.

CAMRA’s comments add fresh pressure on ministers to commit to a full overhaul of the system, rather than short‑term sticking‑plaster measures.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Welsh Government announces new rates relief for pubs and restaurants after warnings over unfair gap with England
Ministers unveiled a 15% discount for hospitality businesses following concerns that Welsh pubs were being left behind.

Swansea councillor warns Welsh pubs risk being left behind as business rates row deepens
Local leaders said the revaluation would hit pubs hard unless the Welsh Government matched support available in England.

Welsh Government announces new rates relief for pubs and restaurants after warnings over ‘unfair’ gap with England

Around 4,400 hospitality businesses will be eligible for 15% relief on their rates bills in 2026‑27, Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford confirmed today.

The announcement comes the same morning Swansea councillor and Senedd candidate Cllr Sam Bennett warned that Welsh venues risked being placed at a “serious competitive disadvantage” unless ministers matched support being rolled out in England.

In a statement, the Welsh Government said the new package — worth up to £8 million — uses funding from the UK Government but also includes Welsh Government money to widen the range of businesses helped.

Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said:

“Pubs, restaurants, cafés, bars and live music venues are at the heart of communities across Wales. We know they are facing real pressures, from rising costs to changing consumer habits.

This additional support will help around 4,400 businesses as they adapt to these challenges. We have extended this relief to restaurants and cafés, as well as pubs and live music venues, because in towns and high streets across Wales these businesses operate side by side, often in direct competition. It makes sense to support them equally.”

The Welsh Government said the relief will sit alongside existing permanent support worth £250 million a year, with almost half of Welsh pubs already receiving Small Business Rates Relief and more than a quarter paying no rates at all.

From April, the multiplier used to calculate rates bills will also be reduced for the first time since 2010, and £116 million in transitional relief will be provided over two years to help businesses adjust to revaluation changes.

Eligible businesses will be able to apply through their local authority from April 2026.

The move follows growing pressure from the sector. Industry figures told the BBC this week that Welsh businesses were facing higher costs than English competitors, with one brewery owner saying he would pay “not a penny” in business rates if he were based across the border.

Cllr Bennett had earlier said Swansea Bay venues were “on the brink” and urged ministers to “act swiftly” to avoid closures.

Today’s announcement means Wales will now offer a similar level of support to England — but extended to a wider range of hospitality businesses.

Related stories

Two much‑loved Llanelli restaurants close on the same day as customers share heartbreak
A double blow for Llanelli’s dining scene as two favourites shut their doors.

Much‑loved Madeira Portuguese Restaurante closes its doors on Swansea’s Kingsway
A long‑standing Swansea favourite ends its run after decades of service.

Carmarthen’s award‑winning restaurant The Warren to close for ‘hibernation’
Popular venue announces temporary closure amid rising costs.

Popular Uplands Thai restaurant to close
Another hit to Swansea’s hospitality sector as a well‑known eatery shuts.

Swansea councillor warns Welsh pubs risk being ‘left behind’ as business rates row deepens

Welsh Liberal Democrat councillor, Sam Bennett — who represents Swansea’s Waterfront ward and is standing for the Senedd in Gŵyr Abertawe — said ministers must “urgently change course” to stop Welsh venues being placed at a competitive disadvantage.

The row erupted after the UK Chancellor announced extra relief for pubs and music venues in England, cutting an average £1,650 from their bills next year. The support does not apply in Wales, and the Welsh Government has yet to confirm whether it will introduce a similar scheme.

When pressed in the Senedd by Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds, the First Minister declined to commit to matching the English package, saying she needed to examine the details first.

Bennett said that hesitation was already causing alarm among Swansea Bay businesses facing rising costs, staff shortages and falling footfall.

Cllr Sam Bennett said:

“Pubs and hospitality businesses are at the heart of our communities, but too many are being pushed to the brink. Scaling back business rates relief now would be a serious mistake.

Support cannot stop at pubs alone. Cafés, restaurants and other hospitality businesses are facing exactly the same pressures.”

Industry leaders warn Wales is becoming uncompetitive

Concerns over Wales’ business rates system intensified this week after a BBC report highlighted the widening gap between Wales and England.

The broadcaster spoke to Philip Thomas, Wales director of the Society of Independent Brewers, who said his Treforest brewery would pay no business rates at all if it were located just across the border in Somerset.

Thomas warned that the disparity was “impacting on our ability to compete”, with English rivals — who pay nothing — selling beer into Welsh pubs.

His comments echo growing frustration across the sector as new valuations and the end of pandemic‑era relief push bills sharply higher from April.

Analysis by UK Hospitality shows the sector’s business rates bill in Wales is set to rise from £83.1m this year to £135.7m by 2028‑29.

Political pressure grows — even within Labour

The political tension deepened after Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi, who chairs Westminster’s All‑Party Parliamentary Beer Group, publicly welcomed the Chancellor’s decision to cut business rates for English pubs.

She said she had been “pushing for pubs to get a fairer deal” and thanked the Chancellor for listening — but made no reference to Wales, where pubs will not receive the same support unless the Welsh Government chooses to replicate it.

Welsh Government: ‘More to say soon’

A Welsh Government spokesperson said ministers were finalising plans for additional support and would announce details soon.

They insisted that almost half of Welsh pubs already receive Small Business Rates Relief, and more than a quarter pay no rates at all.

But Bennett said Swansea Bay businesses cannot wait much longer for clarity.

Cllr Sam Bennett said:

“Without urgent action, we risk losing viable, well‑loved businesses that communities in Swansea Bay simply cannot afford to lose.”

MP raises “urgent concerns” with Chancellor about support needed for hospitality sector

https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/2026/01/16/mp-raises-urgent-concerns-with-chancellor-about-support-needed-for-hospitality-sector/