Business rates valuation review – our response

August 25, 2026

The independent review, led by business rates expert Jerry Schurder, will consider how pubs and hotels are valued and will bring forward recommendations by the end of March 2027.

We said the review signals positive medium-term reform, but must be coupled with action at the Budget to address rising business rates bills across the whole hospitality sector.

Our response

Allen Simpson, Chief Executive of UKHospitality, said: “I’m pleased the Government is looking seriously at the valuation methodology for pubs and hotels. When you have rateable values doubling or tripling at a revaluation, that is the clearest sign yet that the system is broken and in need of proper reform.

“While this much-needed review is positive, it is medium-term reform that will not solve the immediate financial challenges caused by rising business rates bills.

“The average hotel is experiencing their rates bills rise by 110% over the next three years, with restaurants seeing rises of 54%. Combined, they employ more than 1.7 million people. They will, justifiably, be expecting to see this addressed at the Budget in October.

“While I support the Government’s independent review to improve the system to better reflect trading realities, this must be coupled with fiscal action at the Budget to reduce the entire hospitality sector’s tax burden, of which business rates represent a significant proportion.

“I look forward to working with the Government to provide evidence from across hospitality to support this review and its wider work to address the damage done to the sector over the past two years.”