Pubs and Live Music Venues Relief
A 15% additional rate relief for qualifying pubs and live music venues, introduced from April 2026 on top of the RHL multiplier.
From April 2026, the UK government introduced a 15% rate relief specifically for pubs and live music venues. This relief is applied on top of the RHL (Retail, Hospitality and Leisure) multiplier, providing an additional discount beyond the lower pence-in-the-pound rate that already applies to hospitality properties. The relief recognises the particular challenges facing pubs and the cultural value of live music venues, which have seen significant closures in recent years. It is a separate relief from the RHL multiplier, meaning qualifying pubs effectively receive two layers of discount on their business rates bill.
Key Points
- 15% additional relief on top of the RHL multiplier from April 2026
- Available to pubs, bars, and live music venues
- Applied after the RHL multiplier calculation
- Administered by local authorities
- Can be combined with the RHL multiplier but interactions with other reliefs vary
Who Qualifies
The relief is available to properties that are primarily used as pubs, bars, or live music venues. The definition follows the Licensing Act 2003 categories. To qualify, the property must be open to the public, and the primary purpose must be the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises (for pubs) or the hosting of live music performances (for music venues). Hotels with bars, restaurants that serve alcohol, and nightclubs are generally excluded unless they meet the primary-use test. Your local authority administers the relief and makes the final determination on eligibility.
How It Combines with Other Reliefs
The pubs and live music venues relief is applied after the RHL multiplier has been used to calculate your base bill. So for a pub with a rateable value of 20,000, the bill is first calculated at the RHL rate of 38.2p (giving 7,640), then the 15% pubs relief reduces this by 1,146, bringing the bill to 6,494. If you also qualify for other reliefs such as small business rate relief, the interaction depends on your local authority. In most cases, you receive whichever combination is most beneficial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the pubs discount automatic?
No. You need to apply to your local authority for the pubs and live music venues relief. It is not applied automatically to your bill. Contact your council business rates team to submit an application.
Can gastropubs claim this relief?
It depends on the primary use of the property. If the property is primarily a pub that also serves food, it is likely to qualify. If it is primarily a restaurant that also has a bar, it may not. Your local authority makes the determination based on the nature of the business.
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