Pub landlords consider industrial action as pressure mounts on hospitality
Pub landlords across the UK are considering coordinated industrial action, as frustration intensifies over rising business costs and what operators describe as insufficient support from the Labour government.
According to reporting by London Loves Business, senior figures within the pub trade are actively discussing large-scale protest action, including possible temporary closures, coordinated service stoppages and a planned demonstration in Westminster later this month.
The move would represent a significant escalation from recent symbolic actions and reflects growing concern that pubs are being pushed to breaking point by business rates, labour costs and shrinking margins.
Business rates and Budget pressures at the centre of the dispute
At the heart of the proposed action is business rates reform, alongside wider cost increases confirmed in the autumn Budget. Publicans argue that pubs, many of which operate as low-margin, community-focused businesses, are disproportionately affected by property-based taxation compared with other sectors.
In our autumn Budget analysis, we reported that while hospitality welcomed some acknowledgement of long-term reform, the immediate impact of the Budget placed further strain on operators already dealing with rising National Insurance contributions, staffing costs and energy bills.
Speaking to London Loves Business, a senior pub operator involved in the discussions said the sector felt it had exhausted traditional routes of engagement and that many landlords now believe visible protest is the only remaining option to force meaningful change.
This sentiment has already translated into direct action. City AM reported that hundreds of pubs across the UK have banned Labour MPs from their premises, framing the decision as a protest against government policy rather than party politics.
the impact on small pubs
The pressure facing independent pubs was highlighted by Thomas Frake, chef and co-owner of The Silks, in comments to The Staff Canteen following the Budget announcement.
In that piece, Thomas described how cumulative cost increases were disproportionately affecting smaller operators, limiting their ability to absorb further rises without impacting pricing, staffing or opening hours.
He also stressed that neighbourhood pubs operate on tight margins and have far less flexibility than larger groups when fiscal pressures increase.
Tom Kerridge speaks out on government pressure
The unrest follows recent public comments from renowned chef and restaurateur Tom Kerridge, who has been outspoken about the strain facing hospitality businesses under the current government.
Tom, previously a staunch Labour supporter, warned that pubs and restaurants are being squeezed by rising costs across wages, energy and taxation, and that without intervention the Labour government risks losing venues that play a vital role in local communities.
He told LBC: "I've got four spaces, four pubs, and all of them are going up at pretty much, over 100%.
"(Where) the (treasury) relief comes in that's to help you get to that end number. So it's just softening the blow. It's still killing you off in two to three years' time.
"So the (relief) packages that are helpful, (they are) only helpful for a short period of time."
Tom says the new rateable tax amount on The Coach in Marlow had risen from £50,500 to £106,000.
"We run these as businesses so you have to make those business decisions," he said.
"There are thousands upon thousands upon thousands of pubs, restaurants, coffee shops, all of these sort of spaces, with these rateable values that are happening to them.
"They are under that same pressure."
A sector at a tipping point
Industry bodies including UKHospitality and the British Beer & Pub Association have continued to call for urgent reform, warning that closures will accelerate if structural changes are not made. The Financial Times reported that government officials are in discussions with industry leaders, exploring whether limited concessions or transitional relief could be introduced.
However, with no concrete announcements yet made, confidence among operators remains low.
For many pub landlords, industrial action is viewed as a last resort rather than a first step. But with energy bills, wages and tax pressures continuing to rise, some believe collective action may now be unavoidable.
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Pub landlords consider industrial action as pressure mounts on hospitality
