A pub landlord in Torquay has cut his own pay to just £2 per hour to keep his business afloat, warning that Labour's tax and minimum wage increases could be the final straw. David Leaper, 53, who has run The Devon Arms since 2019, told the Daily Mail he takes home only £100 for a 50-hour week, earning less than his employees who will soon be paid at least £12.71 per hour under the upcoming minimum wage rise.
Mr Leaper said he has come close to closing the pub twice but continues due to his love for the industry. He described the impact of Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Budget measures, including increased employer national insurance contributions and the scrapping of a 40 per cent business rates relief, which he said have pushed his wage costs from 10 per cent to 20 per cent of turnover. He has already raised drink prices by 10p and plans another increase in February.
The landlord highlighted the closure of a neighbouring 500-year-old pub, The Hole in the Wall, last year after its 81-year-old landlord could no longer keep up with bills. Mr Leaper warned that many more pubs could face the same fate without urgent government support. He said he often lies awake worrying about the future but hopes the Chancellor will recognise the vital role pubs play in communities.
Despite the challenges, Mr Leaper remains committed to his local clientele, many of whom visit daily for social interaction. He noted that while he cannot compete with the low prices of chains like Wetherspoons, his pub provides a community service that larger venues cannot replicate.
