The Music Venue Trust has welcomed the government's announcement of a 20% reduction in business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues across England from April next year, but has called for the same relief to be offered across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Restoring live music's central role
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the cut, which the charity says will “begin to restore the central role” of live music at the heart of towns and cities. The discount will apply to nearly 32,000 hospitality businesses but will not be available to the very largest live music venues, costing around £100 million a year.
Call for wider eligibility
Mark Davyd, chief executive of the Music Venue Trust, said: “Music Venue Trust warmly welcomes this announcement from the government, and its recognition that grassroots music venues are essential to our local communities.
“The 20% additional reduction on business rates from April 2027 is an encouraging first step in a range of opportunities available to Andy Burnham’s new team to not just protect and secure live music, but begin to restore its central role at the heart of our towns and cities.”
He continued: “There remain some issues of implementation of previous reliefs, and we will work with colleagues in government to ensure that all grassroots music venues in England are recognised and eligible.
“We call on Senedd, Holyrood, and the Northern Ireland Assembly to swiftly confirm they will match this much needed support through Barnett formula consequentials.
“Venues in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland must be confident of a level playing field of economic conditions for touring across the UK.”
Funding and review
Mr Davyd urged the government to reconsider the limit on eligibility so that all live music spaces qualify. The overhaul of business rates will be funded through a review of reliefs for businesses that “do not make a positive contribution to local communities”, such as vape shops, and a crackdown on online marketplaces that do not comply with tax obligations, No 10 said.
