Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Budget offers little cheer for pubs, brewers and pub-goers.

CAMRA chief executive Tom Stainer (pictured) said: “The UK’s world-renowned pubs, social clubs, brewers and cider makers are a vital part of the social fabric of our communities that need and deserve help to make sure that they survive and thrive. But businesses and pub-goers will have found little comfort in the Budget statement.

“The lack of clarity on whether or not the hospitality sector will get help with energy costs beyond April 2023 makes it impossible for licensees to plan and risks more of our beloved locals calling last orders for good as they struggle to cope with rising costs and customers tightening their belts.

“With consumers feeling the squeeze, it has been disappointing that the chancellor didn’t announce any extra help to keep pub going affordable, such as reintroducing the freeze in alcohol duties to avoid additional increases in the price of a pint or bringing forward plans for a new, lower rate of duty for draught beers.”

Tom pledged CAMRA will continue to campaign for extra support and a fair deal for the nation’s pubs, clubs, breweries and cider producers.

The chancellor also announced a revaluation of business rates in England.

Tom said: “Extending and increasing business rates relief for hospitality businesses in England in 2023/24 will certainly be welcomed by licensees. However, this is not a substitute for proper reform of the business rates system to end the unfair burden on pubs.

“CAMRA will now be looking closely at the results of the latest revaluation and can only hope that the pub sector has a fairer share of the burden than before.”

The country’s smaller brewers say the “lack of clarity on beer duty” adds to the uncertainty for the brewing sector.

SIBA’s acting chairman Richard Naisby said: “They say no news can be good news and we see the chancellor is yet to make a decision on beer duty, or whether it will increase in line with RPI.

“However, this lack of clarity adds to the uncertainty facing the sector as independent breweries battle significant energy increases, supply issues and a cost-of-living crisis.

“While the extension of the retail, hospitality and leisure business rate relief support to 75 per cent is welcome, once again small breweries are likely to miss out on this even though they are at the heart of the hospitality sector. Previously the government introduced the Additional Relief Fund (CARF) for those businesses, like breweries, that missed out on support and its disappointing this has not been repeated today.”

British Beer and Pub Association chief executive Emma McClarkin was unhappy about the chancellor’s approach to business rates in England.

She said: “Urgent root and branch reform is still needed make business rates fit for the 21st century. The decision not to introduce an online sales tax makes it seem the government doesn’t recognise the completely archaic nature of the current system.”