AN average of six pubs, restaurants or hotels will shut every day from April unless the Government reverses its business rates hike, industry leaders warn.
Figures suggest 2,077 hospitality venues face being wiped out.
They have survived in recent years due to government schemes giving them relief on business rates.
But discounts are due to expire at the same time as rateable values — used to calculate bills — are going up.
Trade body UKHospitality says 963 restaurants, 574 hotels and 540 pubs are at risk from the effective hikes.
The average hotel faces a £28,900 rise in business rates next year alone — with a total £205,200 rise by 2029.
Local boozers are also braced for a 15 per cent rise in April and a 76 per cent increase by 2029.
UKHospitality chair Kate Nicholls has warned: “Without a hospitality-wide solution, we will see significant business closures.”
More than 1,000 angry landlords have banned Labour MPs from their pubs and others have threatened to strike, as highlighted by The Sun’s Save Our Sups campaign.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is said to be preparing some relief for pubs, but not the entire hospitality sector.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle says No10 is “listening”, with an announcement likely within days.
That’s a real Plus sign
TRADING platform PLUS500 has smashed forecasts after an “extremely strong” 2025 — with sales and earnings beating expectations.
The FTSE 250 firm’s revenues hit £589million and earnings £258.8million for the year to December 31, an 8 per cent rise on 2024.
Shares climbed by more than a third.
New customer numbers fell 10 per cent to 104,500 as it prioritised “long-term, high-value customers”.
The number of active customers also edged down to 242,000.
Off the land
PROPERTY giant British Land has hailed boss Simon Carter after announcing he is leaving after more than five years in the role.
The CEO plans to leave the commercial developer so he can head up warehouse manager P3 Logistics Parks.
British Land chairman William Rucker said Mr Carter “has positioned the business for future success with an exceptional London office campus and retail park platform”.
Aldi pay rise
ALDI has announced it will boost the already market-leading pay of store staff.
Starting pay will climb to £13.35 an hour, and £14.71 in London, from March 1.
For staff with longer service, it rises to £14.30 and £15.03.
Apprentices will start at £12.02 or £13.22, well above minimum wage.
Full maternity pay will also be extended to 26 weeks.
Aldi is still the only major supermarket offering paid breaks to all store staff.
