The Society of Independent Brewers & Associates (SIBA) has issued an open letter to Rachel Reeves expressing “deep concern” over the Budget. 

In the letter – which has been signed by all 28 SIBA regional directors from across the UK, as well as all 4 non-executive directors – the group walked Reeves through the impact the Budget would have on the brewing and hospitality sector. 

In it, the group criticised Reeves for not lowering the duty on draught beer sold in pubs. Likewise, it expressed that the chancellor’s promise to reform business rates did not go far enough. 

The letter said: “The sector were initially heartened by your announcement of increased support on business rates and to make the hospitality relief permanent.  

“However, once the revaluations are taken into account and the transitional relief unwinds, pubs will now typically pay 76% more in business rates whilst online tech giants only pay 16% more.” 

Elsewhere, considering the knock-on impact on breweries, the letter said: “With pub closures at a new high and having lost more than 100 breweries in the past year, the hospitality sector is in a fragile state. 

“These changes to business rates could be the difference between closure and survival for businesses that operate as the beating heart of communities and bring people together when society needs it most.” 

SIBA ended the letter with an invite to the chancellor to discuss the issues further. It said it would happily host Reeves at one of the group’s independent breweries.