What Bars And Pubs Need From the Upcoming Budget to Stay Viable: The Real Wish List

Let's be honest, running an independent craft beer taproom in Brighton isn't getting any easier. While we love what we do here at Lost and Found, watching our bills pile up month after month has become a familiar (and frankly exhausting) routine. We're not alone in this struggle, and with the upcoming budget announcement just around the corner, it's time to talk about what independent venues like ours actually need to survive and thrive.

The reality is stark: over 2,000 pubs across the UK are at risk of closure next year. That's not just numbers on a spreadsheet, that's communities losing their local gathering spaces, jobs disappearing, and the fabric of British social life fraying at the edges. For Brighton taprooms and independent venues, the stakes couldn't be higher.

The Elephant in the Room: Business Rates

If there's one thing that keeps independent Brighton venue owners awake at night, it's business rates. These archaic charges hit small taprooms and craft beer venues particularly hard, especially when you're competing against massive chain operations with entirely different cost structures.

The government has promised reforms coming in April 2026, and yes, that's progress. Lower business rates multipliers for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties with rateable values below £500,000 will help. But here's the thing: it's not enough, and frankly, it's not fast enough.

What we really need is for ministers to cut both multipliers by an additional 20p. That might sound like small change, but for a Brighton taproom trying to reinvest in better equipment, expand our local beer selection, or simply keep the lights on, it's the difference between growth and just getting by.

The current system penalises exactly the kind of businesses that make Brighton's drinking scene so vibrant. We're not talking about massive corporate chains here: we're talking about independent craft beer taprooms that source from local brewers, employ local people, and contribute to the unique character that makes areas like Fiveways worth visiting.

Beer Duty: The Tax That Never Stops Giving

Here's something that might surprise you: the UK has some of the highest beer taxes in Europe. Every pint we serve comes with a hefty government surcharge that gets passed down the line from brewers to venues like ours, and ultimately to you, our customers.

For craft beer taprooms, this is particularly painful. We're already paying premium prices for quality, independent brews from Sussex and Brighton brewers who refuse to compromise on ingredients or methods. When you add eye-watering beer duty on top, it becomes increasingly difficult to offer the diverse, exciting selection that sets us apart from generic pub chains.

A meaningful reduction in beer duty wouldn't just help our bottom line: it would allow us to take risks on new brewers, support emerging talent, and keep our rotating taps fresh with exciting options you simply can't find anywhere else.

Employment Costs: The Squeeze on Staff

Let's talk about the people who make venues like Lost and Found work. Our bar staff aren't just pouring pints: they're craft beer educators, community builders, and the friendly faces that turn first-time visitors into regulars. But keeping great people is getting exponentially more expensive.

Rising wages, increased National Insurance contributions, and additional employment regulations all add up. Don't get us wrong: we want to pay our team well. They deserve it. But when employment costs spiral upward faster than revenue, something's got to give.

What independent Brighton taprooms need is targeted support that recognizes we're not faceless corporations with endless resources. We need employment cost relief that's specifically designed for small hospitality venues, allowing us to invest in our teams without constantly worrying about whether we can afford to keep everyone on.

Energy Support: Keeping the Lights On

If you've been inside Lost and Found recently, you'll know we've got a warm, welcoming atmosphere that encourages people to stay, chat, and enjoy themselves. Creating that environment requires energy: for lighting, refrigeration, heating, and all the behind-the-scenes systems that keep a craft beer taproom running smoothly.

Energy costs have become one of our largest overheads, and unlike larger chains, we can't negotiate bulk deals or spread costs across dozens of locations. Every kilowatt hits our margins directly, and with prices still volatile, budgeting becomes a guessing game.

Targeted energy support grants for small hospitality venues would provide the stability we need to plan beyond the next quarterly bill. It's not about handouts: it's about recognizing that independent taprooms and Brighton venues provide community value that goes far beyond simple profit margins.

The Packaging Tax Nightmare

Here's something most customers never think about: the government's packaging tax on the bottles, cans, and containers that hold the craft beers we serve. This tax was supposed to encourage recycling and reduce waste, but in practice, it's become a bureaucratic nightmare that disproportionately affects small venues.

We're all for environmental responsibility: many of the Brighton brewers we work with are leading the way in sustainable practices. But the current packaging tax system is chaotic, unfair, and adds administrative burden that we simply don't have resources to handle efficiently.

A comprehensive review that simplifies the system and reduces the burden on small craft beer taprooms would free us up to focus on what we do best: creating community spaces and supporting independent brewing talent.

VAT: The Hidden Multiplier

VAT might seem like just another cost of doing business, but for hospitality venues, it's a significant factor in every decision we make. When you're trying to keep prices reasonable while maintaining quality, VAT becomes a multiplier that affects everything from food menus to event planning.

Temporary VAT reductions during the pandemic showed what's possible when government recognizes the unique pressures facing hospitality. Bringing back targeted VAT relief for independent venues would provide immediate breathing room and allow Brighton taprooms to reinvest in their offerings rather than just survive.

Brighton-Specific Challenges

Running a craft beer taproom in Brighton comes with its own unique set of challenges. Property costs are high, competition for quality staff is intense, and seasonal tourism patterns can make cash flow unpredictable.

Yet Brighton's independent venue scene is what makes the city special. We're not asking for special treatment: we're asking for policies that recognize the realities of operating in one of the UK's most dynamic but expensive cities.

Local business rate relief, support for venues that contribute to Brighton's cultural economy, and recognition that independent taprooms are essential infrastructure for community building would all make a meaningful difference.

What This Really Means

At its core, this isn't really about tax rates or regulatory burden. It's about whether the UK wants to maintain the diverse, independent hospitality scene that makes places like Brighton worth visiting.

Every independent craft beer taproom that closes is a loss for the community it served. These aren't just businesses: they're gathering places, cultural hubs, and economic engines that support local suppliers, brewers, and staff.

The upcoming budget is an opportunity to show that government understands the difference between supporting massive corporate chains and nurturing the independent venues that create authentic local character.

The Path Forward

We're not asking for the impossible. Business rates reform that goes further than currently planned, meaningful beer duty reductions, employment cost support, energy grants, and VAT relief: these are achievable policies that would make an immediate difference.

For craft beer taprooms like Lost and Found, survival isn't just about the next quarter's numbers. It's about maintaining the spaces where communities gather, where local brewers can showcase their craft, and where the conversation flows as freely as the beer.

The budget announcement will tell us whether policymakers understand what's at stake. We're hopeful, but we're also realistic. Independent Brighton venues have proven remarkably resilient, but resilience has limits.

What we need now is a government that recognizes independent taprooms and craft beer venues aren't just businesses: they're essential parts of the communities they serve. Support us, and we'll continue creating the spaces where memories are made, friendships are forged, and the best of British brewing culture thrives.

The wish list is simple: give us the tools to do what we do best, and we'll keep Brighton's independent spirit alive, one carefully curated pint at a time.