Independent Pub Alliance - IPA

16/06/2026

Rural pubs continue to face a unique set of challenges that many people simply don’t see.

While these businesses are often the heart of their communities and offer experiences that cannot be replicated elsewhere, their success is increasingly dependent on factors outside their control. Unlike city-centre venues that benefit from passing trade and large local populations, rural pubs rely on customers making a deliberate journey to visit them.

Distance, limited public transport, rising fuel costs and changing consumer habits all play a part. Many rural operators report that trade can be unpredictable, with busy periods often followed by long quiet spells. Seasonal fluctuations can also be extreme, with some pubs taking more in a summer day than they might generate during an entire winter week.

Across the country, publicans are adapting. Opening hours are being adjusted to match customer demand, food and drink offers are evolving, and many businesses are focusing on daytime trade, walkers, tourists and destination visits rather than traditional evening drinking patterns.

At the same time, operators are facing increasing pressure from business rates, energy costs, taxation and wider economic uncertainty. For some of the most remote pubs, simply keeping the lights on can cost tens of thousands of pounds each year.

Road closures and transport issues can create additional barriers, particularly in rural areas where alternative routes may add significant travel time and effectively cut businesses off from potential customers.

Despite these challenges, rural pubs remain vital community assets. They support local employment, attract visitors, preserve heritage buildings and provide important social spaces in areas where amenities are often limited.

The Independent Pub Alliance believes that if governments are serious about supporting rural communities, they must also recognise the value of rural pubs. Without meaningful action on taxation, business costs and infrastructure, many of these unique businesses will continue to face an uncertain future.

Rural pubs are not simply places to drink. They are employers, meeting places, tourist attractions and often the last remaining community hub in their villages.

They deserve support before more of them are lost.

14/06/2026

Government Moves to Protect CO₂ Supplies

The Government has announced plans to consult on the future resilience of the UK’s carbon dioxide supply chain, recognising the importance of CO₂ to a wide range of industries, including brewing, food production, water treatment and healthcare.

The move comes as pubs and brewers prepare for what could be one of the busiest football tournaments in recent memory, with many venues expecting increased demand throughout the World Cup.

Carbon dioxide plays a vital role in keeping beer flowing, particularly for lagers and other carbonated drinks. In recent years, the UK has experienced several supply concerns, forcing government intervention to help stabilise the market and avoid disruption.

The reopening of the Ensus bioethanol plant on Teesside earlier this year has helped strengthen supplies, but ministers are now seeking views on how to create a more secure and resilient domestic CO₂ industry for the long term.

From the IPA’s perspective, supply chain resilience is just as important as tackling the cost pressures facing hospitality. Publicans have endured enough uncertainty in recent years without having to worry about whether key products and ingredients will remain available.

The consultation is expected to examine issues including energy costs, regulation, planning barriers and potential support for domestic production. Industry figures have also suggested that restarting additional UK production facilities could further strengthen national supply.

As pubs invest in additional stock, staffing and equipment ahead of the World Cup, operators will be hoping that the pints keep pouring without interruption.

A secure CO₂ supply might not be something customers think about when they order a beer, but it is another reminder of how many moving parts are involved in keeping Britain’s pubs operating successfully.

13/06/2026

🚨 200,000 SIGNATURES AND COUNTING! 🚨

The campaign has now smashed through an incredible 200,000 signatures, sending a clear message to Westminster that hospitality businesses need support.

Pubs, restaurants, cafés and hospitality venues across the UK are facing unprecedented cost pressures. Energy costs, business rates, National Insurance increases and rising wage bills continue to squeeze businesses that are at the heart of our communities.

A reduction in VAT for hospitality would provide a vital boost to an industry that employs millions of people, supports local economies and serves as the social fabric of towns and villages across the country.

This isn’t just about protecting businesses. It’s about protecting jobs, communities and the places where people come together.

If you’ve already signed, thank you. If you haven’t yet, please take a moment to add your name and help us keep the pressure on.

Every signature matters. Every voice counts.

Together, we can show the Government that hospitality deserves better.

Link in comments 👇🏼

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12/06/2026

⚡️ Hands Off My Bills: Standing Up For Britain’s Small Businesses

The Independent Pub Alliance is proud to support our co-founder Lorna and her new campaign, Hands Off My Bills.

Running a pub is hard enough without having to worry about whether the companies you trust to manage your utilities are acting fairly and transparently.

Lorna’s story will resonate with many operators across hospitality. A cold call promising savings, reassurance that everything will be simpler, and then a series of unexplained issues, inconsistent billing and a frustrating battle to get answers.

Whether these experiences are isolated incidents or part of a wider problem is exactly why campaigns like this matter.

At the IPA, we believe small businesses deserve clear information, honest advice and fair treatment. Publicans should be focused on serving their communities, not spending countless hours trying to untangle utility disputes and billing problems.

If you have had similar experiences with utility brokers, energy suppliers or water consultants, we encourage you to support Hands Off My Bills and share your story.

Real change starts when people speak up.

Good luck, Lorna. The IPA stands behind you, and we look forward to seeing where this campaign leads.

Hello!

My name is Lorna. I’m a landlady and co-founder of a hospitality campaigning group known as the IPA (Independent Publicans alliance). I believe in British business but I do not believe in unfair practice. ❌

Here’s my story.

In March 2023 I was visited by a company known as Trilogy consultants. This company approached me via a Cold Call to my business landline and they told me I was potentially entitled to a water rebate under a new Government scheme. They visited my pub to talk about this further as I was interested.

During this visit, they introduced me to 2 companies: One Energy and UK Water Co which Trilogy told me they worked with and they could save me money on my utility bills. They sweetener was a 5% discount on my energy rates and post Covid, like many businesses, I had a small debt with my utility companies which I was steadily paying off.

Trilogy told me that these companies were there to help and would bill me the same amount each month which would help pay off arrears and prevent seasonal fluctuations in bills. It would help with cash flow. As a small business I thought this was a great idea, especially because I have guest rooms to let it would help towards paying the much higher gas bills in the winter.

Then things became rather strange…
Monies attempted from my account despite paying DD. Different billing amounts. Inconsistent billing and all of this I found rather strange. Of course I addressed this but One energy in particular were rather hostile and even became quite personal towards me. I knew and felt something was wrong.

So I started searching online forums and bingo, I quickly found their was others out there just like me reporting the exact same thing time and time again. The exact same scenario. The exact same companies and often were visited by the exact same person…

So I did more digging. Interestingly the director of all of these companies is the exact same person too. Coincidental? 🤔

Now I’m here. This is my new campaign. I am not scared of these companies but I do need YOUR help!

If you have been affected by any of the above companies or know somebody who has, please get in touch. We need action ‼️

12/06/2026

The Government is reportedly considering reducing the drink-drive limit in England and Wales.

Road safety is something we all support. Nobody wants unsafe drivers on our roads and every effort should be made to reduce serious accidents.

To be absolutely clear, the Independent Pub Alliance is not suggesting that people should be drinking up to the current legal limit before getting behind the wheel. The existing limit simply provides some breathing space for someone who may choose to have a single alcoholic drink with a meal, meet friends for a quiet drink after work, or enjoy a pint while supporting their local pub. The vast majority of pub-goers act responsibly and make sensible decisions about when and whether to drive.

However, once again, we have to ask whether anyone in Westminster has stopped to consider the impact on rural pubs and the communities they serve.

Many village pubs rely on customers travelling a few miles for a meal, a social drink or to meet friends and family. Unlike towns and cities, there are often no practical public transport options, no late-night buses and no affordable taxi services.

If the Government believes lowering the limit is the right thing to do, then it must also recognise the unintended consequences for thousands of community pubs already struggling under the weight of high VAT, rising employment costs, business rates and energy bills.

You cannot continue to make it harder and more expensive for people to visit their local pub while refusing to address the tax burden that is pushing many businesses to the brink.

Pubs are more than places to drink. They are employers, community hubs, meeting places and vital parts of village life.

The Independent Pub Alliance supports sensible measures that improve safety, but we also call on Government to properly support the hospitality sector through meaningful tax reform, including a reduction in VAT for hospitality.

Protect our roads. Protect our pubs. The two are not mutually exclusive.

10/06/2026

As the World Cup approaches, pubs across the UK are once again preparing to invest heavily in showing the tournament.

From upgraded TV screens and sound systems to extra staffing, increased stock levels and extended opening hours, pubs will be putting thousands of pounds on the line in the hope of creating the atmosphere that only the local can provide.

But there is a genuine question facing many operators this time around… will the footfall be there?

With many games scheduled later at night, and with household budgets still under pressure, there are concerns that some supporters may choose the sofa over the pub, particularly during the early group stages.

Pubs want to show the World Cup. They want to bring communities together, create memorable occasions and give fans somewhere to celebrate. But the reality is these events come with significant costs and increasing financial risk for businesses already operating on tight margins.

The hospitality industry has always stepped up for major sporting events. The question now is whether the economic environment allows pubs to see the reward for that investment.

Whatever happens, one thing remains true: there is no atmosphere quite like watching England in a packed pub. 🍻⚽

09/06/2026

James May has sparked debate by suggesting that pub closures are primarily a quality issue, arguing that “the good pubs survive and the bad ones fade away.”

To a degree, he’s right. Great pubs don’t happen by accident. Good service, clean facilities, quality drinks, a welcoming atmosphere and adapting to changing customer expectations are all essential ingredients for success.

But where we part company is the suggestion that quality is the main issue facing the industry.

Across the UK, there are thousands of well-run, popular pubs delivering excellent customer experiences every day, yet many are still struggling to remain profitable.

The reality is that even the best operators are battling soaring employment costs, rising National Insurance contributions, energy prices, food inflation, business rates, beer duty and VAT. Industry leaders have repeatedly warned that these pressures mean even busy, successful pubs are finding it increasingly difficult to make the numbers stack up.

A perfect example of the pressures facing hospitality is Jeremy Clarkson’s Farmers Dog pub. Despite massive publicity, nationwide interest and tables reportedly booked solid, Clarkson himself has openly admitted the business is still losing money. If a venue with that level of exposure and demand is struggling to turn a profit, it shows just how difficult the current climate is for pubs across the country.

This isn’t simply about whether a pub is “good” or “bad” anymore, it’s about whether the economics of running hospitality businesses in Britain are sustainable at all.

The Independent Pub Alliance believes quality and government policy are not mutually exclusive. Pubs should absolutely strive to be the best they can be. But we should not ignore the fact that excessive taxation and rising operating costs are placing unsustainable pressure on businesses that are otherwise thriving.

Good pubs can survive difficult conditions. Great pubs can even flourish. But no business should be expected to carry one of the highest tax burdens in Europe while facing relentless cost increases on every front.

If we want Britain’s pubs to remain at the heart of their communities for generations to come, we need both excellent operators and a fairer trading environment.

05/06/2026

The Government may have clarified that there is no new “nice pub tax” and that no fresh revaluation is taking place, but for many publicans that misses the point entirely.

The real issue isn’t whether this is a new tax or an old valuation method. The real issue is that the business rates system continues to reward decline and penalise success.

If a pub invests in its beer garden, creates a family-friendly environment, builds a strong food offer, provides community facilities, attracts visitors and becomes a thriving local business, it can find itself facing a higher rates bill because its trading potential has improved. That cannot be the right incentive for an industry that is constantly being told to invest, innovate and grow.

At the Independent Pub Alliance, we believe pubs should be encouraged to improve their offer, not punished for doing so. Whether you call it a “nice pub tax” or not, the principle remains the same: successful pubs should not face ever-increasing tax burdens simply because they are successful.

We welcome the Government’s commitment to review the valuation methodology ahead of the 2029 revaluation, but this review must deliver meaningful reform. The current system is outdated, overly complex and fails to recognise the social, cultural and economic value that pubs bring to their communities.

The hospitality sector doesn’t need more confusion. It needs a fair business rates system, lower VAT, and a taxation framework that supports investment rather than discourages it.

The question isn’t whether there is a new “nice pub tax”.

The question is why Britain’s pubs are still being taxed on a system that so many agree is no longer fit for purpose.

04/06/2026

Prince William’s Message on Pubs Should Be a Wake-Up Call

When the future King of England says “we need to protect our pubs”, it’s worth paying attention.

During a recent visit to a London pub, Prince William spoke passionately about the role pubs play in British society, describing them as places where communities come together and relationships are built. He made it clear that his support goes beyond simply enjoying a pint, recognising that pubs are often the glue that holds communities together.

It’s a message that will resonate with publicans across the country.

For generations, pubs have been where friendships are formed, local causes are supported, sports teams celebrate, charities raise money and neighbours look out for one another. In many villages, the pub remains the last truly public meeting place where people from all walks of life can gather under one roof.

Prince William’s comments come at a time when the industry continues to face immense pressure. Rising costs, increasing taxation and changing consumer habits have left many pubs fighting simply to keep their doors open. Industry figures suggest pubs continue to close at an alarming rate, with around two shutting their doors every day.

What makes the Prince’s intervention particularly significant is his recognition that pubs are about far more than beer. He highlighted that it is the people behind the bar and the communities around them that make pubs special.

That sentiment will be familiar to anyone who has ever relied on their local as a place to meet friends, celebrate milestones, support a fundraiser or simply enjoy a conversation.

The debate around pubs is often reduced to economics, but Prince William’s comments remind us that their value cannot be measured purely in pounds and pence. Once a pub is lost, a piece of community infrastructure disappears with it.

His call to protect Britain’s pubs should not be viewed as nostalgia. It is a recognition that pubs remain one of the country’s most important social assets.

If we truly value community, connection and the traditions that make Britain unique, then protecting pubs is not just a hospitality issue. It’s a national one.

🐐 🍻

03/06/2026

The Independent Pub Alliance proudly supports the 'VAT's The Problem’ campaign spearheaded by Tom Kerridge and hospitality leaders across the UK.

For years, pubs, bars, restaurants and hospitality venues have warned that the current VAT burden is unsustainable. While costs continue to rise across the board, wages, energy, business rates, insurance and suppliers, hospitality businesses are still expected to hand over 20% VAT on food and drink sales in one of the toughest trading environments the industry has ever faced.

A reduction in hospitality VAT to 10% would not be a handout. It would be a lifeline.

It would allow struggling pubs and hospitality venues to:
• Keep prices fairer for customers
• Protect jobs
• Invest back into their businesses
• Improve wages and working conditions
• Reduce closures in communities across the country

The UK currently has one of the highest hospitality VAT rates in Europe, placing independent venues at a huge disadvantage compared with many neighbouring countries that already recognise hospitality as a vital economic and social sector worth protecting.

Pubs are more than businesses. They are community hubs, social spaces, employers, fundraisers and part of Britain’s cultural identity. Every pub closure represents lost jobs, lost investment and the loss of another community meeting place.

Supporting this campaign is about supporting the future of British hospitality.

The IPA may still be growing as an organisation, but remaining silent on an issue this important would serve nobody. We believe the industry must stand together, regardless of who is leading the conversation, and push for meaningful long-term support before more businesses disappear for good.