Senior figures from across the UK’s night-time economy have rejected suggestions that the upcoming business rates relief should only apply to pubs, warning that such a narrow approach risks destroying nightlife and the cultural sector as a whole.
Industry leaders say recent briefings suggesting pubs could be placed under protection ignore the interconnected ecosystem that forms the foundation of Britain’s evening economy, including nightclubs, bars, casinos, theatres, live music venues and late-night cultural spaces, all of which face steep cost increases from April 2026.
According to industry estimates, business rates across the night-time economy are expected to rise by an average of 76%, with half of venues facing increases of 50% or more. Some operators are expecting increases of between 100% and 200%, a level many say is simply unsustainable, particularly for independent businesses operating on thin margins.
Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said portraying the issue as one that only applies to pubs was both misleading and damaging.
“The suggestion that these are just pubs is deeply frustrating,” he said. “Pubs are important, but they are just one part of the nightlife ecosystem. Casinos, clubs, theaters, bars and live music venues all rely on each other to thrive. When one part collapses, the damage spreads quickly.”
Kill warned that tariff increases of this magnitude threaten jobs, cultural production and the infrastructure that underpins the UK’s global reputation for nightlife and entertainment. “If these venues fail, we lose far more than just buildings, we lose livelihoods, culture and the social fabric of our cities,” he added.
Sacha Lord, chairman of the Night Time Industries Association, said reports of relief for pubs were welcome but fell far short of the sector’s needs.
“This is a step in the right direction, but it doesn’t go far enough,” Lord said. “It would be completely unfair to help one part of the hospitality sector and leave the rest open. Independent restaurants, clubs and venues are already closing in droves. The Chancellor must act for the entire sector.”
Operators point to increasing evidence of the strain that non-pub venues are also facing. A city center nightclub facing a 120% increase in its rates has warned its closure would impact surrounding bars, restaurants and suppliers who rely on its footfall. An independent theater has seen its revenue more than double, threatening performances and creative jobs, while a regional casino expects a 100% increase, threatening long-term employment.
Across the country, independent bars, music venues and nightspots are reporting increases of up to 200%, raising fears that without intervention many will not survive past next spring.
Industry leaders are now calling for urgent government action to extend business rates relief to 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 watershed moment. Without decisive action, the UK’s social, cultural and economic heartbeat is in real danger.”
