High Street in Hot Water: The New Bill‑Bundling Game
Get ready, shop‑keepers, pubs, gyms and nightclubs – the next round of business rates bills is slipping into your mailbox in November, and it’s going to sting a little harder than last year.
What’s the Deal?
Colliers has done the math and the conclusion is stark: the Government is slashing retail, hospitality and leisure relief from 75% down to 40% as of 1 April 2025. That means most entrepreneurs will see their rates hike by roughly 140 % over the next twelve months.
Retail, Restaurants & Pubs – The Numbers Speak
- Retailers: From £3,751 to £9,003 annually.
- Restaurants: From £5,563 to £13,351.
- Pubs: From £4,017 to £9,642.
Colliers’ forecasts are grim. 17,349 store closures are expected in 2025 alone – a spike fueled by rising rates, higher National Insurance contributions and wage hikes. The culprit? A relentless cascade of life‑cost pressures.
Pubs: The Drunk Accident?
Pubs have already slid to an all‑time low, with over 400 shutting down in 2024 (about 34 a month).
Insolvency specialists at Price Bailey predict that 1 in 10 British pubs face imminent closure this year. That’s a lot of “cheers” that might go out of business.
Nightclubs & Gyms – The Party Costs More Than the Party
Nightclubs will face a gigantic jump from £7,479 to £18,245 in fees – a sector that already saw 37 % of clubs close monthly since 2020. And gyms? Their bills rise from £2,942 to £7,060.
Can the Government Save the High Street?
Labour’s promise is to “Save the High Street”, yet the new policy seems poised to push it toward the brink. The only bright spot is a lower multiplier for RHL businesses slated for April 2026, but that comes at a time when revaluation numbers will likely push rates even higher.
Businesses are forced to navigate a minefield of cost‑increasing pressures: higher rates, higher wages, higher insurance, and rising inflation all at once. It’s a screaming match: most will struggle, some will fold.
Takeaway – The Bell Rings Soon
When those bills arrive in November, the high street’s future hangs in the balance. The sculptor has pulled the plumb line a bit too far; the resulting shift could tilt the market towards a slowdown or even shutdown for many brave retailers and service providers.
