Ministers have announced new measures aimed at breathing life back into Britain’s high streets by making it easier to open bars, music venues, and cafés. The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, pledged to “protect pavement pints” as part of a broader effort to modernise planning regulations. A streamlined licensing framework will fast-track permissions for al fresco dining and enable street parties and extended opening hours in newly proposed “hospitality zones”. Additionally, developers will be required to soundproof any new buildings near existing pubs and clubs, protecting longstanding venues from noise complaints.
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The Government’s proposals, which are now subject to a call for evidence, aim to simplify the conversion of disused shops into hospitality spaces. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said that excessive bureaucracy has long obstructed entrepreneurs’ ambitions. “We’re slashing those barriers to give small business owners the freedom to flourish,” he stated, highlighting plans to replace shuttered shops with vibrant social spaces that create local employment opportunities.
Rachel Reeves further emphasised the cultural importance of pubs and bars, criticising outdated laws that she said had held the industry back. She pledged to remove these restrictions not only to support summer socialising but to encourage year-round vibrancy on high streets. However, industry concerns persist. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) warned earlier this month that over one pub per day could close in 2025 due to soaring costs and taxation—an estimated 378 closures resulting in more than 5,600 job losses across England, Scotland, and Wales.
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Industry leaders welcomed the red tape reductions but stressed that deeper structural reforms were still necessary. Kate Nicholls of UKHospitality praised the proposals but warned that without business rates relief and support with employment costs, some businesses would continue to struggle. The BBPA’s Emma McClarkin called for accompanying cuts in beer duty and urgent reform of business rates to secure the sector’s future. Meanwhile, Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith criticised the Government for what he described as hypocrisy—accusing Labour of simultaneously strangling the sector with higher rates and employment levies.
