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Scotland’s hospitality sector has been hit by rising costs<\/p>\nMore than 50 pubs in Scotland shut their doors for good last year as landlords battle with soaring costs and regulars spending less.Scotland’s hospitality sector has been hit by rising costs<\/p>\n
More than 2,000 pubs in Scotland are still missing out on rates relief available to bars in England as the hospitality sector continues to struggle<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ian Murray, the Scottish Secretary, today challenged the SNP Government to do more to support the country’s licensed trade after more than 50 watering holes shut their doors for good<\/a> last year.<\/p>\n In England, pubs benefit from 40 per cent rates relief from the UK Government \u2013 but in Scotland rates relief is only extended to bars with a rateable value of \u00a351,000 and under.<\/p>\n Trade body UK Hospitality estimates the difference means around 2,500 hospitality venues in Scotland are losing out, with a higher rates bill of \u00a312,000 for a typical local boozer.<\/p>\n Murray, who ran pubs in Edinburgh before entering politics, spoke out on the issue while visiting Carrigan\u2019s Bar in Hamilton ahead of a Holyrood election in the local constituency next week.<\/p>\n “I used to run pubs and restaurants and the local is at the heart of so many communities,” he told the Record. “That\u2019s why I was delighted to see the UK government give pubs a helping hand with 40 per cent rates relief.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Anas Sarwar challenges Nigel Farage to a debate after ‘racist’ by-election advert row<\/a>READ MORE: John Swinney condemns Nigel Farage for defending ‘racist’ advert about Anas Sarwar<\/a><\/p>\n “But that rate relief didn\u2019t reach every pub north of the border, the SNP decided to cap it and industry analysis believes as many as 2,500 pubs, bars and restaurants are losing out.<\/p>\n “That\u2019s despite Labour handing the SNP the biggest budget settlement in the history of the Scottish Parliament, with a \u00a350 billion settlement this year.<\/p>\n ‘Davy Russell is a local champion who will back local businesses \u2013 a vote for him is a vote to call last orders on the SNP.”<\/p>\n CAMRA, which campaigns in support of traditional pubs and ale, has called for the SNP Government to review the business rates system.<\/p>\n It comes at a time landlords face soaring energy costs while regulars have less to spend due to the cost of living crisis.<\/p>\n Stuart McMahon, CAMRA Scotland director, said: “In order to make sure our pubs survive and thrive at the heart of our communities, ministers must now commit to reforming the entire business rates system to make it fairer.<\/p>\n “The Scottish Government should level the playing field between online and bricks-and-mortar businesses and finally end the shocking overpayment that pubs have to cough up under the current system.”<\/p>\n Labour candidate Russell, whose campaign is being backed by well-known Hamilton landlord John Carrigan, said: “Our high streets and communities are at risk of being laid low by an SNP Government that doesn\u2019t understand business or want it to flourish.<\/p>\n “Between voting against \u00a38 million for Hamilton town centre and refusing to pass on rates reliefs for pubs and restaurants they have hollowed out our communities.<\/p>\n “I\u2019m not a career politician and I\u2019ve never stood for election before – I\u2019m local and have served our community for 45 years, and I\u2019m standing in this by-election because I am fed up with the SNP leaving our community behind.\u201d<\/p>\n The Record asked the Scottish Government for comment.<\/p>\n