Apology to Peterborough pubs for delay in £5,000 business rates rebate

A pub group operating five premises in Peterborough has received an apology from Peterborough City Council over a business rates discount worth more than £5,000.
Carly Peachey and Therese Gallacher at The Lime Tree pub, Paston Lane. EMN-180709-091433009Carly Peachey and Therese Gallacher at The Lime Tree pub, Paston Lane. EMN-180709-091433009
Carly Peachey and Therese Gallacher at The Lime Tree pub, Paston Lane. EMN-180709-091433009

Venture Pub Company Ltd became frustrated with the authority after contacting it in February to request business rates relief of £1,000 for each of its city pubs.

The discount had been announced by the Chancellor in last’s Autumn Budget.

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Company director Carly Peachey said: “We are a multiple operator of 16 pubs and deal with several other local authorities and all these have applied the £1,000 relief which we are entitled to as per the Government’s statement.

“We last spoke with Peterborough City Council in August and they are still claiming it is ongoing. All other local authorities dealt with this back in February/March.

“We have chased an explanation on several occasions as to why Peterborough City Council think they have the right to make us pub businesses continue to pay our business rates when they haven’t applied this rate relief discount.”

The company runs through leases: The Lime Tree (Walton), The Dragon (Werrington), The Dragonfly (Orton Malborne), the Cross Keys (Oundle Road) and the Swiss Cottage (Woodston).

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They also ran the Cock Inn, in Werrington, until June 2018 which it wants pro rata relief for.

Carly contacted the Peterborough Telegraph after reading the story of Eve Warner who runs The Lightbox bar café in Bridge Street (see sidebar). A council spokesman said: “As the business rates relief scheme for pubs is funded through discretionary powers, the awards need to go through local governance procedures.

“These are due to be signed off imminently.

“In the meantime we will contact the customer to ensure that her instalments are altered accordingly and her remaining instalments are reduced accordingly.

“We would also like to apologise this was not offered previously and for any inconvenience this has caused.”