Anna Gelderd welcomes rates cut that could save Cornwall pubs £1,100

The typical pub in South East Cornwall could be around £1,100 better off next year, and the area’s MP says she has spent months pressing for exactly this kind of help.

A 20% cut from April 2027

The government has announced a 20% cut to business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues. The change comes into effect from April next year and will reach nearly 32,000 venues across the country, with the typical pub expected to save about £1,100 in the next financial year. The wider package is worth around £100 million a year.

Announcing the move, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “For too long, governments have stood by while cherished venues have disappeared from our local high streets. So today I am changing that.”

Anna Gelderd, Member of Parliament for South East Cornwall, has welcomed the cut as a way of helping local businesses through the whole year rather than only over the busier summer season. She says pubs, clubs and live venues matter to the character of Cornish communities as much as to the local economy.

Listening to local publicans

Anna has been meeting publicans across South East Cornwall to understand the pressures they face. Earlier this year she brought owners together for a roundtable at the Edgcumbe Arms, hearing directly about what it takes to keep a venue running in a rural, seasonal part of the country.

She has also taken the issue to Westminster. Anna spoke in a debate on seasonal hospitality in coastal areas, and followed up by writing to the former Minister for Employment Rights and Consumer Protection about operating costs and long-term sustainability.

“There is more to do”

Anna Gelderd said: “Our pubs, clubs and live venues are a key part of life in South East Cornwall. They are a space for people to come together, support local jobs and strengthen our economy.

“As South East Cornwall’s MP, I have made it my mission to listen carefully to the needs of local publicans and amplify their voices. Time and again, people have expressed their concerns about business rates and the challenge of running a business in rural areas. So, I raised these issues in Parliament, writing to and speaking with Ministers, and contributing to important debates calling for greater support for our hospitality sector.”

She added: “I am pleased that the Government has listened and taken action to address our concerns. This is a welcome step but there is more to do, and I will continue to meet with other local businesses and champion the issues that would make a real difference to our communities.”