Business rate reliefs

Retail, hospitality, and leisure business rate relief 

If your business premises are used for any of the following categories, you may qualify for this relief:

  • Shops, including various types of retail stores like florists, bakers, butchers, grocery stores, and more.
  • Services provided to the public, such as hair and beauty salons, travel agents, ticket offices, dry cleaners, and more.
  • Food and drink establishments like restaurants, takeaways, coffee shops, pubs, and bars.
  • Cinemas that show films.
  • Live music venues that primarily host live music performances for entertainment.
  • Sports and leisure facilities, museums, theatres, gyms, and other entertainment venues.
  • Hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses, and holiday homes.

To be eligible for the relief, your business must be wholly or mainly used by visiting members of the public for one of the qualifying purposes mentioned above. The relief provides a 75% reduction in business rates for the billing year from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025. The maximum relief you can receive is £110,000 per business for the year.

It's important to note that if you choose to opt out of the relief for the 20234 to 2025 billing year, you cannot change your decision later. The local authorities will identify businesses they believe qualify for this discount based on their records.

Please be aware that certain types of businesses, like financial services, medical services, and some professional services, are not eligible for this discount. Also, if your business is not easily accessible to the public, it may not qualify for the relief. The list of eligible businesses is not exhaustive, as there are many different types of qualifying purposes. If you believe your business meets the criteria, you should check with the relevant authorities for confirmation.

This relief is delivered through local authority discretionary powers under section 47(3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.

More information is available here: Business Rates Relief: 2024/25 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

If you think you are eligible, please fill in our online form:

Apply now