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Government Pub Relief Skips Hotels, Owner Cuts 80% Staff

4/28/2026

27 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The government's 15% business-rates relief and bill-freeze apply only to venues classified as pubs, excluding hotels and guest houses.
Owner Joyce closed the pub’s food and drink business and laid off roughly 80% of the workforce.
Joyce said the venue had to diversify into events and accommodation to cope with rising costs.
Bar manager Dianne Cannon warned that without additional support no pub will survive.

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Story summary

The government's 15% business-rates relief and bill-freeze apply only to venues classified as pubs, excluding hotels and guest houses.
Owner Joyce closed the pub’s food and drink business and laid off roughly 80% of the workforce.
Joyce said the venue had to diversify into events and accommodation to cope with rising costs.
Bar manager Dianne Cannon warned that without additional support no pub will survive.