‘It’s a hospitality-wide problem’: night-time traders react to business rates relief plan

Gyms, pharmacies, restaurants, cafes and convenience store owners question why only pubs and live music venues should get help in England

• Pubs and live music venues to get support after business rates backlash

• Waterstones boss defends government’s business rates shake-up

Gyms, local shops, restaurants, nightclubs and pharmacies have criticised the government for not extending business rates support beyond pubs and live music venues.

The Treasury announced on Tuesday that every pub and live music venue in England would get 15% off its new business rates bill from 1 April, worth an average of £1,650 for each, with bills frozen in real terms for a further two years.