{"id":6651,"date":"2026-09-29T17:58:51","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T17:58:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/?p=6651"},"modified":"2026-09-29T17:58:51","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T17:58:51","slug":"news-and-views-september-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/index.php\/2026\/09\/29\/news-and-views-september-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"News and views – September 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Aspirations for the budget<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The autumn budget, Chancellor John Healey\u2019s first, will be announced on 28 October.  CAMRA, along with most of the hospitality industry, wants to see a reduction in the rate of VAT for the industry.  10% is the figure usually quoted.  Reports in the press however suggest that this is unlikely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other items on the wish list are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022            lower beer and cider draught duty in pubs;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022            a fairer business rates system;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022            the reversal of increased Employer National Insurance contributions;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022            assistance with pubs\u2019 energy bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) are putting pressure on the Chancellor to reduce the duty payable on beer sold \u2018over the counter\u2019 in pubs by adjusting the Draught Relief system.  Pubgoers are invited to join the \u2018Drop the Tap Tax\u2019 campaign by signing their petition at www.droptaptax.com<\/em><\/a>.   Andy Slee, SIBA\u2019s chief executive, said, \u201cWe\u2019re encouraging pubgoers, beer drinkers and others to show their support by signing the petition and contacting their MP to urge the chancellor to Drop the Tap Tax in October<\/em>.\u201d  Draught Relief is currently set at 13.9% and the campaign wants this extended to 30%.  I suspect that the best that we will see is a freeze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the Prime Minister\u2019s announcement of a 20% reduction in business rates on pubs, it has been announced that there will be an independent review into the methodology for their calculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An end to the levy?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Financial impositions on pubs have been under a great deal of scrutiny but I\u2019ve seen no recent mention of the late night levy.  For those who have forgotten the details (as I had), any business that wishes to sell alcohol at any time between midnight and 6am must pay an annual fee of between \u00a3299 and \u00a34,400.  Newcastle City Council\u2019s licensing committee recently decided to discontinue the levy and this is expected to take effect on 31 October.  I\u2019m sure that the hospitality trade would like to see this spread.  At present, seven councils in Greater London operate the levy: the City of London, Camden, Hackney, Islington, Redbridge, Southwark and Tower Hamlets.  The hours involved mean that relatively few pubs pay the levy but a number did cut back their hours to midnight to avoid payment when it was introduced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last stand?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early in August a row broke out over Westminster City Council\u2019s rules for so-called vertical drinking.  I\u2019ve waded through a great deal of press coverage and it all seems somewhat confused.  As far as I can work out, the rules have existed for many years and are simply being brought forward into the latest iteration of Westminster\u2019s licensing policy.  They have been applying them for some time to any new venues seeking a licence in what is called the \u2018Soho cumulative impact zone\u2019.  Nowhere else.  Any new venue has to agree that all of their customers will be seated, that there will only be table service (no ordering at the bar) and no \u2018vertical drinking\u2019 outside.  Some reports say that this is being done largely at the behest of the Soho Society, described as \u2018an influential group of local residents and some local businesses\u2019.  Others see Soho as a crucial part of London\u2019s wider hospitality offer and believe that these restrictions make it virtually impossible for a venue to be financially viable and, as such, are effectively a ban on new pubs and bars.  The situation has led to a serious rift with the Mayor of London, Lord Khan of Tooting (as he is now).  A forthcoming change in the Mayor\u2019s powers may however see the argument swing his way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Threat reduced<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pubs make a tempting target for those who wish to find premises for what some regard as dubious uses.  With the passing of the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, the threat of pubs being turned into \u2018adult gaming centres\u2019 or vape shops has diminished.  Vape shops are to be removed from the planning use class for shops etc (Class E) and placed in a class of their own so that each opening will require planning permission.  For \u2018adult gaming centres\u2019 and betting shops, there has until now been a rule, the \u2018aim to permit\u2019, under which local authorities must agree to an opening if licensing requirements have been met.  Full planning permission will now be required and planning authorities will be able to take a wider view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Browned off<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Readers might like to note that in Flanders, between 2010 and 2024, 4,174 caf\u00e9s \u2013 that\u2019s four in ten \u2013 disappeared.\u00a0 The very existence of Belgian traditional cafes is under threat.\u00a0 Politicians are currently formulating a \u2018Caf\u00e9 Plan\u2019 with the aim of having the \u2018brown pub\u2019 designated as a Flemish Heritage asset. \u00a0I am pleased to say that Podge’s Belgian Beer Tours, one of our regular advertisers, have been doing their bit, taking travellers to these marvellous little places, for 30 years.
John Cryne<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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