A PUB claims it has been forced to jack up its prices by up to 20 per cent because of Rachel Reeves’ “war on business” Budget.
The Ship Inn at Brimscombe slammed the Chancellor’s new fiscal plans and said they had “no choice” but to raise prices and reduce opening hours.
Fuming landlord Wesley Birch, 41, blamed Labour’s Budget for the unpopular measures he’ll now have to put in place at his Cotswolds pub.
Staff hours will be cut and the site will be open for less hours – in a desperate ploy to “survive” the fallout of the Reeve’s new manifesto.
Wesley said the pub would navigate the aftermath of the Budget by making essential “sacrifices and changes”.
He said his beloved boozer would no longer be a viable business and would face liquidation if he didn’t act.
The landlord has placed the blame solely on the government’s new demands – which include “another rise” in wages and alcohol duty.
The Ship is a popular watering hole in the Stroud Valleys, renowned for its Sunday lunch and prime location next to the canal.
Wesley explained how the pub’s business rateable value is now set increase from £8,000 in 2025 to a whopping £31,750 in 2026.
He raged: “That is nearly a 300 per cent increase!
“The minimum wage for under 18s – that accounted for half our work force – has risen by 24 per cent from April 2025 to 2026.
“NI contribution has also increased of around £11,000 this year.”
Wesley branded Reeves’ new plans a “war on small businesses”.
From January 1, the pub will be introducing a small price increase across their drinks and hospitality offerings.
Wesley said: “As we enter the New Year, we have to take necessary steps to ensure the long-term sustainability and continued presence of our business.
“The current economic climate requires us to make pragmatic adjustments so we can move from merely surviving to thriving again in the future.
“This driven is driven entirely by the latest tax demands imposed on the hospitality and beer industries by the government.”
He added: “We were hoping for some form of relief in the hospitality sector but what we received was a demand for more money and business rates which are almost crippling.
“We have absorbed every cost increase possible to maintain the pub people know and love, and to keep our prices as low as possible.
“However, without this increase, our beloved community pub would no longer be a viable business and would face liquidation.”
The Ship’s opening hours, until this recent change, read: “Open from 3pm to 11pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, noon until 11pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and open from noon until 8pm on Sundays.”
Following the new changes, openings hours for “drinking” will be 3pm to 7pm from Monday to Wednesday (except for quiz nights), 3pm till 11pm on Thursdays and Fridays, noon till 11pm on Saturdays and noon till 8pm on Sundays.
The pub’s opening hours for food will be 5pm till 9pm on Thursdays and Fridays, noon till 9pm on Saturdays and noon till 6pm on Sundays.
The pub will also be implementing a 15 to 20 per cent increase across the board in price increases.
It comes as boozers nationwide face steeper business rates that could cost them an extra £150million, shock analysis has found.
Industry chiefs warned that firms will end up paying more despite the rates being lowered at the Budget last month.
The British Beer and Pub Association calculates that bills will soar by £3,867 for the average small pub next year – and £11.085 for a medium-sized pub.
Emma McClarkin, boss of the BBPA, said: “Once you cut through all the warm words the cold hard truth was that this Budget let down pubs all across the country.”
Wesley said the team has also discussed reducing the staff’s hours.
He explained: “We haven’t increased our prices for two years and the business must pay for itself or its not viable and can’t continue.
“We were in a very different situation 18 months ago when we had 75 employees.”
He continued: “Now we are down to 48 staff and anyone who leaves doesn’t get replaced.
“Come April next year we will need to be down to around 40 in order to be viable.”
Wesley added: “We recognize that any change to operating times can be inconvenient, and we sincerely apologize for any disruption this may cause.
“These adjustments are vital to securing our future and allowing us to continue serving our customers for years to come.
“Hopefully there is better news ahead and we are very grateful for our loyal customers and community support.”
