Government announces 15% support package but campaigners say costs still crushing hospitality

PUBS, cafés and restaurants across Wales will receive extra business rates relief — but ministers are facing criticism after comments suggesting people staying home watching Netflix are partly to blame for struggling high streets.

The Welsh Government has announced a 15% business rates discount for around 4,400 hospitality businesses in 2026-27, backed by up to £8 million in funding.

Announcing the package, Welsh Government Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said: “Pubs, restaurants, cafés, bars, and live music venues are at the heart of communities across Wales. We know they are facing real pressures, from rising costs to changing consumer habits.

“This additional support will help around 4,400 businesses as they adapt to these challenges.”

The announcement came hours after Eluned Morgan suggested in Senedd discussions that changing lifestyles — including more time spent at home on streaming services — were contributing to falling footfall in town centres.

The remarks prompted political backlash.

Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Jane Dodds, said: “People are not willingly choosing Netflix over the high street. They are being forced indoors because prices keep rising and wages are not.

“Blaming people for staying at home is an insult to business owners who are working longer hours just to survive.”

Industry groups say the problem runs deeper than consumer behaviour.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) welcomed the discount but warned it would not prevent closures.

Chris Charters, CAMRA Wales director, said: “15% off for a year is only the start. It won’t fix the unfair business rates system our pubs are being crushed by.

“Welsh publicans need a permanent solution, or doors will continue to close.”

Across Pembrokeshire, traders have repeatedly told The Herald that rising energy bills, wage pressures and rates — rather than a lack of willingness to go out — are keeping customers away.

Several town centres have seen growing numbers of empty units over the past year, with independent shops and hospitality venues reporting reduced footfall outside the main tourist season.

While ministers say the relief balances support with tight public finances, business groups are calling for wider and longer-term reform.

Further debate on rates changes is expected later this year.

CAMRA warns one-year discount is only a sticking plaster as many Welsh locals face rising bills

A BUSINESS rates discount for Welsh pubs has been welcomed as a step in the right direction — but campaigners warn it will not be enough to stop more locals from shutting their doors.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) says the Welsh Government’s decision to offer a 15 per cent reduction on business rates bills for the coming year will provide short-term breathing space for struggling publicans.

However, it believes the move fails to tackle deeper problems in the rating system that continue to pile pressure on community pubs across Wales, including in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.

Chris Charters, Director of CAMRA Wales, said: “Today’s announcement from the Finance Secretary that pubs will get 15% discount on their business rates bills is a welcome step.

“However, many pubs still face big hikes in their bills due to the rates revaluation which could still lead to more of our locals in Wales being forced to close for good.

“15% off for a year is only the start of supporting pubs with business rates. It won’t fix the unfair business rates system our pubs are being crushed by.”

He added: “Welsh publicans need a permanent solution, or doors will continue to close and communities will be shut away from these essential social hubs that help tackle loneliness and isolation.”

Mounting pressure on locals

Under plans announced by the Welsh Government, pubs will receive a temporary discount on their rates bills for the next financial year.

But CAMRA argues that many premises are simultaneously facing sharp increases following the latest revaluation, which recalculates rateable values based on property size and trading potential.

For some smaller, rural venues, especially those already operating on tight margins, the increases could wipe out the benefit of the relief entirely.

Publicans say they are also contending with rising energy costs, higher wages, supplier price hikes and changing customer habits since the pandemic.

In west Wales, several long-standing village pubs have either reduced their opening hours or put their businesses on the market in the past year, with landlords warning that overheads are becoming unsustainable.

Community role

Campaigners stress that the issue goes beyond beer sales.

Pubs are often described as the last remaining social spaces in small communities — hosting charity events, sports teams, live music and local groups.

In parts of rural Pembrokeshire, a pub can be the only public meeting place left after the loss of shops, banks and post offices.

CAMRA says supermarkets and online retailers enjoy structural advantages that traditional pubs cannot match, making it harder for locals to compete on price.

The organisation is now calling on ministers to introduce a permanently lower business rates multiplier for pubs, rather than relying on short-term discounts.

Long-term reform call

CAMRA wants whoever forms the next Welsh administration to commit to fundamental reform of the rating system, arguing that pubs should be recognised as community assets rather than treated like large commercial premises.

Without change, it warns, the number of closures is likely to accelerate.

Charters said: “This is about protecting the future of our locals. Once a pub shuts, it rarely reopens. We can’t afford to lose any more.”

For many communities across west Wales, the fear is simple: temporary relief may buy time — but it may not be enough to save the local.

Family-run repair centre praised for workmanship, transparency and customer care

A FAMILY-RUN vehicle repair business has been recognised for its high standards of workmanship and customer service after securing national accreditation from Which? as a Trusted Trader.

Haworth Autobody Ltd, based in Haverfordwest, has built a loyal customer base through years of careful, precision repairs and a straightforward, customer-first approach. To earn the endorsement, the company underwent a detailed independent assessment examining not only technical skill and repair standards, but also business procedures, complaint handling systems and verified customer feedback.

The Which? Trusted Trader scheme is widely regarded as one of the most robust consumer approval programmes in the UK. Successful applicants must follow a strict code of conduct and agree to ongoing monitoring, with only a small proportion of businesses achieving the status.

Owner Bobby Haworth said the accreditation reflects values the company has always tried to uphold.

“We’ve always believed that doing the job properly, being upfront with customers and standing by our work is the only way to operate,” he said. “To have that approach independently recognised by Which? means a great deal to us and gives customers extra confidence when they choose us.”

For motorists, the recognition offers added peace of mind at a time when trust and transparency in vehicle repairs are more important than ever. Customers can expect clear communication throughout the process, honest and detailed estimates, and repairs carried out to a consistently high standard.

The workshop handles a wide range of services, including accident damage repairs, paintwork restoration and cosmetic bodywork, with an emphasis on quality workmanship and attention to detail.

Mr Haworth said the endorsement was not a finishing line but a foundation for continued improvement.

“We’re continuing to invest in staff training, modern equipment and new techniques to make sure standards stay high as we grow,” he added.

With consumer confidence increasingly tied to independent verification and proven reliability, the latest recognition reinforces Haworth Autobody’s standing as a trusted name in local vehicle repair.

Haworth Autobody Ltd
Unit 7, Snowdrop Lane, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA61 1ET
Tel: 01437 779911
Mobile: 07723 011847
Web: www.habody.com