Yorkshire Dales pubs face pressure from proposed tax plans

The warning comes from publican Andrew Hields, who runs three Yorkshire Dales venues – including the UK’s highest pub, the Tan Hill Inn near Richmond.

Mr Hields also runs the Green Dragon Inn at Hadraw and the Station Inn at Ribblehead.

Pubs with stunning views, large beer gardens and strong community ties could soon face higher tax bills under new HMRC guidance.

Mr Hields said: “At best they lose money for four months, break even for four months and usually only make money for four months – the latter becoming more difficult due to recent Government decisions.”

He argued the tax fails to consider the seasonal nature of such businesses and places further strain on an already struggling hospitality sector.

He said: “Most ‘nice pubs’ are rural which means they already have higher costs and often have less access to a local workforce, so have to pay more to get staff, more on service and increased marketing costs to create awareness and appeal.”

Mr Hields questioned how HMRC would define what qualifies as a ‘nice pub,’ whether by architecture, the street it’s on, or its history.

He also noted additional costs for rural pubs, such as higher insurance due to remoteness from emergency services and increased overheads like those faced by the off-grid Tan Hill Inn, which relies on generators for electricity.

He said: “We are also a lifeline for other businesses in the area we operate, from tradespeople to local producers.

“Nice in this context seems to defined by what something looks like or its setting – not taking into account the challenges and expenses these particular businesses are facing.

“Also who visits a pub that is not nice? All pubs are arguably nice or people wouldn’t go to them.

“This is an absolutely nonsensical, badly thought out scheme which will ruin lots of businesses and communities.

“The Government need to seriously reconsider before making this move, along with other recent decisions which are having a detrimental effect on the hospitality industry.”