Budget 2021: Dorset pub landlord reacts to cuts to Business rates and draught duty
Is the Chancellor's budget enough to give Dorset landlords hope for the future?
Last updated 28th Oct 2021
Pubs across Dorset are reacting to the Chancellor's budget announcements today with cuts to business rates and draught duty.
Landlords have been worried further restrictions could be in store as coronavirus cases rise. Today they were looking for promises from the government that everything would be okay.
In his speech today, Rishi Sunak announced changes to alcohol duty including cuts to duty on draught beer, draught cider and sparkling wines too. Business rates for the hospitality industry will also be cut by 50%.
Lee Worsley runs the Kings Arms in Portesham. He said told Greatest Hits Radio Dorset:
"There's positives in there particularly for hospitality. I don't think he's gone quite as far as he could have gone to support the industry but there's certainly a good effort and intention to help with that.
"I think getting through the winter, if you're not in good health already, the winter's going to be a real struggle. There isn't a golden handout that's going to come from the government.
"But, I think what's been put in place to help long term growth and recovery is welcome."
But Lee isn't as taken by the cut to draught alcohol. The Chancellor said that will mostly benefit small community pubs for whom 75% of their trade comes from a keg.
"The announcement that's been made today won't make a massive difference to consumers or really to publicans in terms of profit with the duty or the cost of a pint.
"Where it will make a massive difference is it's incentivising the brewers to supply and support the on-trade. In essence, more incentivised to sell beer in a draught keg as opposed to putting it in a bottle for supermarkets."