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UKHospitality Cymru has said business rates bills will still increase in April, despite a further 15% discount for pubs, restaurants and cafes.

David Chapman, Executive Director of UKHospitality Cymru, said: “The additional 15% relief is helpful to some but it’s notable that this is only a one-year commitment, which is a significant difference to the three years committed to in England.

“Welsh Government’s inclusion of restaurants and cafes, alongside pubs, is clear recognition that this is a hospitality-wide problem, yet this is far from a hospitality-wide solution. Rates bills will still be going up year-on-year, even for those receiving relief, and hotels, which were facing the biggest increases, have been excluded completely.

“It’s positive that additional funding has been used to support hospitality but it was the Welsh Government’s decision to exclude hospitality from business rates support that has led to this situation. We need a swift end to this unjust system, which challenges business viability, investment and growth. Hospitality still needs to see proper business rates reform and action to reduce the cost of doing business.”