A beloved east London pub, The Sun Tavern in Bethnal Green, is facing an existential threat. New assessments have revealed it’s been designated the “most f*ed” venue in London, staring down a staggering 632.1% increase in business rates.
This isn’t a modest adjustment; it translates to an extra £70,800 annually – more than six times the rate hikes impacting other businesses in the surrounding area. The assessment, based on a building’s size and location, has left the pub’s owner reeling.
Andy Kerr, who has poured eleven years into building a thriving local establishment, is now facing an impossible choice. “It is absolutely crazy,” he stated, describing the packed weekend crowds. “But how can I possibly afford this? I’ll have no choice but to close the business – I will hardly be able to sell it.”
The Sun Tavern, known for championing independent brands, is a relatively small venue, seating only 60 people. Kerr is baffled by the disproportionate increase, especially when compared to larger establishments nearby experiencing far smaller adjustments.
The situation isn’t unique to The Sun Tavern. A growing list of pubs across London are grappling with similar, devastating increases. The Spread Eagle in Wandsworth faces a 622.4% hike, while Nags Head in Peckham is looking at a 613.3% jump.
Other pubs feeling the pressure include The Bank of Friendship in Highbury (537.8%), The Clarence Tavern in Stoke Newington (514%), and The Pelton Arms in Greenwich (479%). The Wickham Arms, Beaten Docket, Dog and Bell, and Village Green all face increases exceeding 400%.
The looming end of Covid-era relief measures in April will only exacerbate the crisis, triggering revaluations for many businesses. Concerns are mounting that this could spell disaster for the UK’s pub culture.
Recent polling suggests nearly three in ten pubs nationwide – around 11,000 venues – fear they won’t survive the coming year. Industry warnings predict a chilling rate of one pub closure per day.
Kerr laments the lack of communication from authorities regarding the dramatic increase. While the pub is popular enough to have potentially absorbed a doubling of rates, this astronomical jump is simply unsustainable. He feels abandoned, left to navigate this crisis alone.
The data driving these assessments comes from the Valuation Office Agency, analyzed to create what’s been dubbed the ‘F*ed Pub Index’ (FPI). Pubs facing over 200% increases are labeled “Absolutely F*ed,” while those with 100-200% hikes are simply “F*ed.” Even increases of 50-100% earn a “Struggling” designation.
The future of these cherished community hubs hangs in the balance, threatened not by lack of patronage, but by a system seemingly detached from the realities of running a small business.
