Senior figures from across the UK’s night-time economy have hit back at suggestions that forthcoming business rates relief will apply only to pubs, warning that such a narrow approach risks devastating the wider nightlife and cultural sector.
Industry leaders say recent briefings implying pubs could be singled out for protection ignore the interconnected ecosystem that underpins Britain’s evening economy, including nightclubs, bars, casinos, theatres, live music venues and late-night cultural spaces, all of which are facing steep cost increases from April 2026.
According to sector estimates, business rates across the night-time economy are set to rise by an average of 76%, with half of venues facing increases of 50% or more. Some operators are bracing for hikes of between 100% and 200%, a level many say is simply unmanageable, particularly for independent businesses operating on tight margins.
Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said framing the issue as a pubs-only problem was both misleading and damaging.
“The suggestion that this is ‘just pubs’ is deeply frustrating,” he said. “Pubs matter, but they are only one part of the nightlife ecosystem. Casinos, clubs, theatres, bars and live music venues all rely on each other to thrive. If one part collapses, the damage spreads quickly.”
Kill warned that rate increases of this scale threaten jobs, cultural output and the infrastructure that underpins the UK’s global reputation for nightlife and entertainment. “If these venues fail, we lose far more than buildings, we lose livelihoods, culture and the social fabric of our towns and cities,” he added.
Sacha Lord, chair of the Night Time Industries Association, said while reports of relief for pubs were welcome, they fell far short of what the sector needs.
“This is a step in the right direction, but it doesn’t go far enough,” Lord said. “Helping one part of hospitality while leaving the rest exposed would be totally unfair. Independent restaurants, clubs and venues are already closing in droves. The chancellor needs to act for the whole sector.”
Operators point to mounting evidence of the strain facing non-pub venues. A city-centre nightclub facing a 120% increase in its rates bill has warned its closure would hit surrounding bars, restaurants and suppliers that depend on its footfall. An independent theatre has seen its rates more than double, putting performances and creative jobs at risk, while a regional casino expects a 100% increase that could undermine long-term employment.
Across the country, independent bars, music venues and late-night operators report increases of up to 200%, raising fears that many will not survive beyond next spring without intervention.
Industry leaders are now calling for urgent government action to extend business rates relief across the entire night-time economy. Without it, they warn of widespread job losses, particularly among young people, the collapse of independent cultural venues, and lasting damage to Britain’s creative and hospitality industries.
“The idea that this is just about pubs is dangerously simplistic,” Kill said. “Independent venues are most at risk, and April 2026 is a tipping point. Without decisive action, the UK’s social, cultural and economic heartbeat is in real danger.”
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Nightlife leaders warn business rates relief must go beyond pubs
