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Britain's nightlife doesn't need sympathy - just ministers to stop taxing us out existence

15 0
25.07.2026

For once, the Government appears to have recognised something the hospitality and entertainment industries have been saying for years.

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You can’t keep piling costs onto venues and then act surprised when they close.

The proposed 20% reduction in business rates for hospitality, leisure and retail businesses is a welcome admission that something has gone badly wrong. But if ministers are serious about reviving Britain's nightlife, they shouldn't wait. Bring it in sooner, make it permanent and go one step further by cutting VAT for hospitality and entertainment to 9%, bringing Britain closer to much of Europe.

This is about more than just about pubs, clubs or live music venues; it's about the entire ecosystem that depends on them.

When people come to a Dreamboys show, they rarely just buy a ticket. They book restaurants, jump in taxis, stay in hotels, have drinks afterwards and often grab food on the way home. The same applies to concerts, comedy nights, theatre productions and live events across the country.

One successful........

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