Business rates cut for pubs and live music venues

Following the business rate changes announced in the Budget in November, the Government has set out further changes, with a new relief focused on pubs and music venues to begin in April 2026 

Pub and Live Music Venues Relief is a 15% relief and can be applied on top of existing rates reliefs already announced, such as Transitional Relief or Supporting Small Business Relief.  

A rates estimate tool including the new relief is available here. 

Business rates apply to England only, but the announcement may affect any support which the Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish administrations decide to offer the pub and live music sectors. 

Are there any qualifying criteria? 

Yes, there are. The full list for pubs is available here and for music venues here but the key factors are:  

Pubs 

• Open to the public 
• Free entry (occasional paying events allowed) 
• Drinks available without having to also buy food 
• Drinks can be bought at the bar 
• Not a restaurant, café, nightclub, hotel, boarding house, sports venue, theatre, cinema, museum or casino 

Live music venues 

• Wholly/mainly for live music performances 
• If used for other activities, they’re incidental to live music  
• Not wholly/mainly a nightclub or theatre  

Last updated: 30th January 2026