Editor’s Viewpoint: A New Year, Old Challenges, and a Call for Change

By Peter Adams, Editor, CLH News.

Happy New Year to all our readers. As we step into 2026, I begin with some well-deserved congratulations to those from our sector who were recognised in the King’s New Year Honours List.

Paul Kevin Hegarty of the Licensed Trade Charity received an MBE for charitable work, whilst Marcus Wareing, Steven Munkley, Teresa Colaianni, Mark McCulloch, and Clement Chukwumerije Ogbonnay were similarly honoured with MBEs for their contributions to hospitality and related fields.

Higher honours went to Peter Bruce, CEO of Scottish catering firm Entier, and Gary Green, former group Chief Operating Officer at Compass Group, both receiving CBEs. It’s heartening to see those in the sector recognised, particularly after what has been such a difficult year.

While I truly hope 2026 brings some relief and cheer, I cannot ignore the reality that confronts us.

Our lead story has made headline news across the UK, both nationally and regionally: one pub a day closed in 2025. A devastating statistic. And closed for good. Once lost, lost for good.

The analysis by global tax firm Ryan lays bare the scale of permanent closures facing the sector ahead of the 2026 business rates revaluation.

Once again, I must address the “party line response” from government spokespeople, trotted out in TV interviews and media statements: “We’re also protecting pubs and other businesses with the budget’s £4.3bn support package, bringing total bill increases for pubs down to 4% instead of the 45% they would have faced without our support.”

Despite the fact that, as we reported before Christmas, research by John Webber, Head of Business Rates at Colliers, demonstrated that the low retail, hospitality and leisure multiplier will not be low enough to compensate for the loss of reliefs, despite government claims to the contrary.

As a result, many small independent operators in England will see significant spikes in their rates bills during the new list, which comes into force in April 2026, with bills expected to be 75% higher by 2028. He could not have been clearer.

And of course, if pubs close, it completely exposes the argument that tax rises are needed to fund other government initiatives.

A closed pub raises no taxes. I noted that the average UK pub is estimated to have paid approximately £96,140 in alcoholic drinks taxes in the last year alone, with total tax contributions significantly higher when including business rates and employment taxes.

The government will have to change course before April, before the damage truly is irreversible.

We have also included a brief recap of 2025 in this issue. Sadly, there isn’t too much cheer, although there are some bright spots which demonstrate the sector’s remarkable resilience.

That resilience, however, should not be mistaken for invulnerability. Our industry needs support, not suffocation.

Here’s to hoping 2026 brings the policy changes our sector desperately needs.

I would encourage all our readers to follow us on X/Twitter @CLHNews and visit our website at www.catererlicensee.com to sign up for our twice weekly e-newsletter.

I can always be contacted at edit@catererlicensee.com