Inflation adds an estimated £129m to hospitality's rates bill in England next April

Business rates multipliers in England rise each April in line with September's Consumer Prices Index, which the ONS put at 3.5%, up from 3.1% in August. Tax firm Ryan has worked out what that means, and The Morning Advertiser reports the numbers.

The estimates - Around £1.1bn extra on rates bills across England from April 2027, unless the Chancellor intervenes at the Budget on 28 October. - £352m of that falls on the "Other" property class, which covers hospitality, leisure, education, health and transport. - Within it, about £129m lands on hospitality, leisure and accommodation: pubs, restaurants, hotels, holiday lets and attractions. - It comes on top of the 2026 revaluation, which Ryan says raised rateable values in England by 19.4%.

The Government has already confirmed a 20% rates cut for pubs, social clubs and live music venues from April 2027, and ministers are reported to be looking at raising the Small Business Rates Relief threshold from £12,000 to £18,000. Neither helps restaurants, hotels or larger multi-site estates much. Rates are devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

What it means for operators: build the uprating into FY27 property cost forecasts now, split by estate type, since pubs and restaurants in the same group will see different net effects. Then re-run the numbers on Wednesday afternoon, once the Budget is out.