The owner of a popular pub and music venue in Luton has demanded more be done to support businesses like his in the wake of Government plans to cut business rates.

In January, The Treasury revealed it would be giving all pubs and music venues 15 per cent off of their business rates for 2026/27.

But the landlord and owner of a The Castle in the centre of Luton, which gives a platform to the town’s musicians and serves as a community hub, painted a bleak picture of what his business is facing.

James Cardwell explained: “The Treasury’s announcement of a 15 per cent business rates reduction might make for a good headline in London, but on the ground here in Luton, it simply won’t touch the sides.

placeholder image — The Castle. Picture: Google Maps

“As the landlord of The Castle, I can tell you that the average saving of £1,600 is a drop in the ocean compared to the tidal wave of costs we are currently facing. The British Beer and Pub Association estimates that nearly 2,000 pubs are already on the edge of insolvency, and this small gesture does nothing to change that trajectory.”

He works another full-time job to make sure the lights stay on in the pub, and is subsidising the business from his own wages because of its importance in the town.

He explained: “The reality of running a pub in 2026 is that we are being taxed out of existence. We pay tax when we buy the beer, we pay tax when we sell it, and we pay tax just for the privilege of being here. It is a staggering reality that the Government currently makes more on the sale of a single pint than the publican does. We are essentially working for the Treasury, while our own margins are squeezed to the point of disappearing.

“When a town loses a pub, it loses more than just a place to drink; it loses a stage for music, a gallery for the arts, and a hub for people. Anyone who has lived in Luton for a while will tell you that the loss of these spaces leaves a hole in the town’s soul that cannot be filled.”

The council has put together a task force to transform the town’s nightlife economy, and recently made 15 recommendations to revitalise it.

James said: “Luton Council has realized the gravity of the situation and has made a significant effort to address these issues locally, but there is only so much that can be done at a local level when the national system is so fundamentally broken.”

In response, Cllr James Taylor said: “Luton Council recognises the vital role local pubs play as community hubs within the night-time economy and the issues they face with rising energy costs and taxation pressures. While business rates are set nationally, we are taking local action through our Town Centre Taskforce to support a safe, vibrant and sustainable evening economy. We are also planning to progress with additional measures, following the recommendations of Luton’s Night Time Economy Task and Finish Group, including exploring the feasibility of business rate reductions as a financial incentive.

“We continue to work closely with publicans through business engagement, licensing support and events promotion, including music events such as last summer’s Market Hill Live and this week’s Independent Venue Week at The Castle, and will continue to advocate for meaningful national reform to help pubs survive and thrive.”

Despite the help promised by Westminster, The Castle’s owner added: “The Government has promised a full review of business rates by 2029, but that is far too late. By the time they sit down to look at the books, another 2,000 pubs could have closed their doors for good. We don’t need a review in three years; we need a tax system that actually allows the Great British Pub to survive today.”