On 27th January 2026, the government announced that eligible pubs and live music venues in England will receive a 15% reduction on their business rates bills for 2026/2027.
Businesses will not be required to apply for Pub and Music Venues Rate Relief as it will be applied automatically. However, if having read the guidance below, you think your business is eligible but the relief has not been included on your bill, you can request your property be considered for relief by e-mailing the Business Rates team at business.rates@sefton.gov.uk
Eligibility
Properties that meet the eligibility criteria must be occupied and be wholly or mainly being used as
- A pub
- A live music venue
Pubs
The following criteria must apply:
- Be open to the general public
- Allows free entry other than when occasional entertainment is provided
- Allows drinking without requiring food to be consumed
- Permits drinks to be purchased at a bar
The meaning of a pub for this relief does not include:
- Restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, snack bars
- Hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses
- Sporting venues
- Festival sites, theatres, cinemas
- Museums, exhibition halls
- Casinos
Live Music Venues
The following criteria must apply:
- Be wholly or mainly used for the performance of live music for the purpose of entertaining an audience
- Can be used for other activities but only if those other activities:
- Are ancillary or incidental to the performance of live music (e,g, the sale of food or drink to audience members)
- Do not affect the primary use of the premises for the performance of live music (e.g because the activities are infrequent such as use of the venue as a polling station or fortnightly community event)
Properties are not a live music venue for the purpose of this relief if the property is wholly or mainly used as a nightclub or a theatre.
How much relief will be awarded?
15% Relief will be awarded to eligible properties after the award of other mandatory and discretionary reliefs.
Pubs and Music Venues Rate Relief is likely to amount to a subsidy. For more information please go to the Business Rates Subsidy Control webpage.