Britain’s live events industry has issued a stark warning to the Prime Minister, urging an immediate review of the government’s new Business Rates system amid fears it will trigger widespread venue closures, job losses and higher ticket prices across the country.
In a strongly worded letter sent to No 10, senior figures from the sector said the changes unveiled at the Budget — including steep revaluations by the Valuations Office Agency (VOA) and a higher Business Rates multiplier for large event venues — would have “devastating, unintended consequences” for the cultural economy.
They warned that the combined effect of unprecedented valuation increases and higher tax charges would “undermine many of the Government’s own priorities”, despite the Budget’s transitional relief measures and lower multipliers for smaller properties.
The letter sets out a bleak picture for music and entertainment spaces at every level. Hundreds of grassroots music venues, the launchpads of artists such as Ed Sheeran — could be forced to shut as rising Business Rates make already fragile finances untenable.
“These venues are where artists like Ed Sheeran began their career,” the signatories wrote. “Their loss would deprive communities of valuable cultural spaces and limit the UK creative sector’s potential.”
The warnings extend to the UK’s major arenas, many of which are facing Business Rates hikes of more than 100%. Operators say these extra costs will almost certainly be passed on to consumers, pushing ticket prices higher at a time when the Government has vowed to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.
“Ticket prices for arena shows will increase,” the letter said. “Dramatic rises in tax costs will likely trickle through to consumers.”
Smaller arenas ‘on the brink’
Mid-sized venues — often the cultural heart of regional towns and cities — are also at risk. The sector fears that dramatic valuation jumps could push many to the edge of closure, triggering thousands of job losses and stripping local communities of vibrant cultural hubs that sustain high-street activity.
“These changes will reduce the visitor spending that supports local hotels, bars, restaurants, shops and taxis,” the letter said. “They will hollow out the cultural spaces that help places thrive.”
Sector says changes conflict with Government’s own growth plans
Industry leaders also accused the government of undermining its Industrial Strategy and Creative Sector Plan, which explicitly commit to reducing barriers to growth for live events. Instead, they argue, the new Business Rates regime risks throttling one of the UK’s most dynamic export industries.
Sector demands 40% rates relief and urgent valuation reform
The letter calls on ministers to take two immediate actions:
• Introduce a 40% Business Rates relief for all live venues.
Film studios have already been granted this level of relief until 2034, and the live events sector argues that venues — similarly classified as “critical creative infrastructure” — deserve the same protection.
• Launch a rapid inquiry into VOA valuation methods for event spaces, which operators say are “disproportionate, inappropriate and unjustified”.
Finally, the industry has requested an urgent roundtable with HM Treasury, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Department for Business and Trade to develop a plan to “save our venues” before closures begin.
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Live events sector warns PM of ‘devastating’ impact from Business Rates overhaul