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WATCH: Pub landlord tells GB News his customers 'can't believe' the high costs he has to pay
Jan 9, 2026
A pub landlord has cast doubt over Labour's potential U-turn on hospitality business rates, as he stressed the "unfair burden" placed on the industry by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.Speaking to GB News, owner of The Wonston Arms in Hampshire Matthew Todd said the tax hikes announced in November's Budget were "preposterous".FULL STORY HERE.
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0:00
The reason being we're here because Rachel Reeves obviously announcing the budget about the changes to the business rates
0:08
But what she didn't mention on that day was that the business rates re-evaluations were being announced by another department
0:13
So it was only half the story. And I'm sat here thinking we need to see what they're going to announce because we've campaigned as hard as we could really across the country to just say this was the last straw
0:24
this was going to be the end for so many of our vital pubs and communities because, you know
0:29
the sheer increases in the business rates amount was just preposterous. So I'm sat waiting here
0:37
to see what the news is. And last night in the pub, that was the subject. Everybody in the pub
0:42
was just asking us, why are you being treated this way, Matt? Why are pubs being treated like
0:47
this? It's just constant, constant cost pressures. And it's cost pressures coming from an
0:54
area that we can't control. It's taxes that are being levied by us on the government. 40p of every
1:02
pound that's spent across the bar goes straight to the government. The customers are seeing that
1:07
now and they're really clear of the fact that it's a huge amount going in taxation and it's
1:13
an unfair burden on trying to run a business, which is mine particularly, is driven entirely
1:19
for the community. That's what we're here for. Matthew, what's your answer to that when customers
1:24
say, why are you being treated this way? What do you say
1:28
I say it's unfair. I said it's not right. It doesn need to be that level We have the highest level of VAT in hospitality for example compared to any other country Other countries across Europe are like 13 We pay 20 on everything in VAT
1:44
So that goes straight to the government. And 40p in every pound is a colossal amount
1:50
So I'm explaining and I give them all the details. They know how much a pint of beer is costing, me
1:56
They know what the utilities are like because they're seeing them themselves
2:00
We explained some of the levels of how much taxation is coming through in terms of the rates
2:07
And these guys just can't believe it's a phenomenal amount compared to what the consumer is paying
2:13
So we are in effect. This is a public house. It's a pub. It's a very original style
2:19
I'm from the north of England, from Barrow, and I built this place up from scratch to try and bring a northern style pub that I remember from my days in Cumbria
2:28
which is it's a front room and people come here to come and socialise
2:32
in the front room of a public house. And so they understand the cost pressures
2:36
And it's a bizarre conversation to have across the bar when they're the ones telling us this is not right
2:44
You're from Barrow? I'm from Barrow as well, yes. Oh, there you go. It's a small world
2:53
And you can picture those northern pub, front room pubs that we were brought up in and the parents took us there
2:59
and we behaved ourselves and we did our homework. And this is what the Little Monster Mams is
3:03
And this is what I want it to continue to be. But at the moment, we are being so pressured by
3:10
unlike every other pub, the amount of taxation that is coming through
3:14
It's a burden that's unfair
#Hospitality Industry
#news
#Business News
#Politics