Business rates hike 'could kill dream of countryside wedding'
The rise in business rates “could kill the dream of the countryside wedding” and force couples to celebrate their special day abroad, the Country Land and Business Association has said.
In the Budget, Rachel Reeves announced that Covid-era relief on the property tax would be ending, and there would be wider reforms.
The Government has already been forced into issuing a rescue package for pubs, after publicans warned of mass closures and Ms Reeves was banned from her local in Pudsey.
Now Bridebook, a wedding booking platform, has warned that venues are set to see their business rates increase by 78 per cent on average over the next three years.
Many farmers across Yorkshire who have diversified could be hit by this hike, on top of the changes to inheritance tax.
UK Hospitality says venues’ business rates depend on whether they provide “serviced weddings”.
Gavin Lane, CLA President, said: “This tax could kill the dream of the countryside wedding. Entrepreneurs have spent years turning empty barns into successful businesses.
“They’ve created jobs, pulled in tourists, and transformed rural Britain into a booming wedding hotspot.
“Now if business rates are hiked thousands of venues will have no choice but to pass those costs onto couples who may scale back their weddings, postpone or simply go abroad.
“Many couples save for years for this one-in-a-lifetime day.
“Piling on more taxes will only mean couples lose choice, venues lose their future and the countryside loses a vital success story.”
A Government spokesperson said: “We’re backing businesses with a £4.3bn Budget package that includes capping big bill hikes - stopping bills rising for over half of business properties.
“This is on top of capping corporation tax at 25 per cent, cutting red tape and helping deliver six interest rate cuts, boosting businesses.”