The Community Tax is back!

If we ever needed proof that our local boozer is more than just a place to get a lukewarm lager, a new report has just confirmed what we’ve known for centuries, that UK pubs provide £160m in social value every year.

From tackling loneliness to acting as an unofficial office for the self-employed, hospitality is the literal glue holding our fractured high streets together. We aren’t just selling pints; we’re providing a public service. But if you look at our balance sheets, you’d think we were running a casino.

Whilst all my hospitality mates are busy hosting the local knit-and-natter group or giving a fledgling solopreneur their first  “desk”, they are also waiting for the guillotine to drop.

As reported this week, the business rates crisis is still choking the high street, taxing small F&B brands on our physical footprint at a time when the digital giants – who provide zero social value and even less community spirit – pay pennies by comparison.

Here’s how:

• Measure your social ROI: Document all the non-drinking events you host – from speed dating to wreath making. If you’re a “community asset” you can use that data when challenging your VOA valuation.
• Sell your downtime: The 11am to 4pm slot is your social value goldmine. Try offering “Work from Pub” bundles that include a plug, a pint and a sense of belonging.
• Lobby locally: Don’t just whine to your staff. Send your social value report to your local MP and ask them why they’re taxing the soul out of their constituency.

The UK’s boozers and bars provide an invaluable community service and we need to shout about it.

This content is contributed by a guest author. Startups.co.uk / MVF does not endorse or take responsibility for any views, advice, analysis or claims made within this post.