PUBS and restaurants face a “cliff edge” unless Rachel Reeves axes a looming tax hike, anxious bosses have warned.

Some 170 hospitality chiefs – including booze giants like Greene King, Fuller’s and Wetherspoons – are demanding further business rates relief at the Budget.

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A 75 per cent business rates cut is due to end on April 1 and will saddle the already-struggling sector with £914million in fresh levies.

In their letter to the Chancellor, the bigwigs write: “In recent months the hospitality sector has become increasingly worried about the onrushing business rates cliff edge that hits the economy on April 1 next year.

“This Budget is the last chance to prevent bills quadrupling for high streets across the country.

“We are asking you to grasp this opportunity to deliver your manifesto commitment to fix business rates and protect businesses.”

Without action, the bosses warn that more venues will be forced to close, leading to job losses and holes in high streets.

UK Hospitality’s Kate Nicholls said: “This 170-strong cohort of business leaders across hospitality shows just how important addressing business rates is at the Budget.

“Inaction will lead to bills quadrupling and more venues shutting their doors for good, which will rob our towns and cities of vital community hubs.

A government spokesperson said: “We’re supporting businesses, including hospitality, through pledges to cap corporation tax at 25 per cent, make the business rates system fairer, and to publish a business tax roadmap so that future investments can be planned with confidence.”

A MAN who grew up living in a “rough” council house and later became a millionaire explains how he manages to take his wife on six holidays a year.

Karl Hudson, 33, from Newcastle, sometimes works 18-hour days and is such a workaholic he even took his laptop on his honeymoon.

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The entrepreneur built his SEO successful business by launching a website from his parents’ bedroom.

He created Searcharoo back in 2008 and has been “involved with multiple businesses to help investors get their websites ranked.”

Karl, a proud Geordie who still lives in his home town, lives in a £350,000 house with their two Yorkshire Terriers with wife Charlotte, also 33.

The Geordie credits his ambition to “growing up in a rough area in a council home”.

Karl said: “Despite the area we lived in, I had a great upbringing and my SEO journey actually started in that house.

“My dad, who worked as a life coach, needed help with designing a website and with 14-year-old me being a big fan of computer games, he called on me for some help.

“Back in those days it was a lot of trial and error, with a big emphasis on error – it was the perfect way to learn.”

He also said that when he started his career he “didn’t need much in terms of financial backing”.

Karl said: “When I started SEO, it was hugely different [to how it is now].

“You were capable of just spamming and things would rank, the trickiest part is all of the algorithm changes and trying to test what is working, because Google doesn’t tell you.

“So networking with other people, testing and sharing ideas, is what I’ve done for many years to help give me the edge, which has definitely helped contribute to my success.”

The couple live in a and are travelling in Australia and Bali during a four-week honeymoon, following their wedding in July this year.

While Karl reinvests much of his earnings, he occasionally likes to treat himself to fun toys, too – his latest purchase is a £35,000 Ford Ranger Wildtrak, while his wife drives a £55,000 BMW X5, which the entrepreneur paid for.

His success grew through various investments and agencies, as well as the entrepreneur’s own personal website.

The 33-year-old lives a luxury lifestyle but admits his career takes a toll on his marriage because he can never really switch off.

Karl said: “We’ve had six holidays in this year alone – visiting places such as Thailand, Poland, Vietnam, Spain and the Philippines.

But the work doesn’t stop. If I have to jump on the laptop while we’re out there, then I’m going to do it because that money means the next trip will be even better.

“My work allows us to have the finer things in life, which she definitely enjoys. I’ll never change.”

“My constant working can cause issues and arguments,” said Karl, who got married earlier this summer.

“My wife knows that I can get absorbed in the job but that this is a sacrifice we have to make to live the life we now have.”

Karl says extreme dedication is necessary for anyone who wants to succeed in business.

While he has been with Charlotte for the past eight years as a partner, he’s also her employer – she’s a content manager at Searcharoo.

Karl believes his financial success is down to his resilience, something he thinks today’s generation struggle with.

He said: “I’ve had some days in my career where I’ve been working for 18 hours straight but it doesn’t phase me.

“I find it impossible to switch off as I love what I do. I’m not one to flash the cash, though – I’m actually quite a reserved person.

“The harder you work the more you get. Unfortunately, with how easy technology has made everything, I fear that the younger generation has lost that fire.

“Gen Z expects everything to be handed to them but that’s not the real world – I’ve got out exactly what I’ve put in.

“Younger lads wouldn’t dream of working on holiday but if they want a life like mine, it’s part of the grind.”

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A LOTTERY winner has been left in “shock” after underestimating the incredible Postcode Lottery prize that he had just bagged.

George Mounsey, one of the winners from Derbyshire, received “unbelievable” news after discovering the cheque value, thinking he had only received £30k.

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After realising the true value of the winnings, George immediately asked: “When does this go in the bank”.

George with his partner, Margaret Blurton, has since considered investing in a caravan but has admitted their still too stunned to finalise any spending.

This is not the first luck the pair have received, after the couple rekindled their romance from when they were teenagers after an unlikely meet-cute in a supermarket.

Tragically, Margaret lost her son and daughter to cancer but admitted that her four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and rest of the family “will get better Christmas presents this year”.

George said: “We might even get a bigger turkey”.

He was not the only one in the winning group to underestimate the offering.

Paul Rowland, who works with the prison service national distribution centre, originally saw the number two on the cheque and assumed he had won £20,000.

Little did he know that there would be a long row of zeros waiting for him to cash in from the enveloped cheque.

Breaston has now been dubbed “millionaire street” with the three next-door neighbours all taking home an incredible £200,000 cheque after DE72 3BC bagged the lucky draw.

The total £1 million jackpot was shared out with an additional bungalow owner, Paul White, as well as another anonymous local.

Alison Browne, a freelance exam coordinator, described the win as “life-changing” and now plans to celebrate with her husband, Tim.

The pair hope to fulfil their lifelong goal of hopping on to the Orient Express as well as a trip to the Rockies in Canada.

Alison said: “Never in my wildest dreams did I think we would win this much.”

Tim has revealed he even hopes to treat his wife to a puppy that could keep their current Pointer, Finlay, company.

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A MAN who bought a crumbling house has transformed the ruin into a retirement fortune worth millions.

Richard Morris and his wife, Joy, got their hands on the Newton Court Farm in Monmouth after finding retirement too boring and struck gold with their decision.

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The 72-year-old told WalesOnline how he built Ancre Hill estate piece-by-piece with the winery now consisting of three vineyards totalling 22 acres.

Richard has now made the decision to put the site, which produces around 30,000 bottles a year, up for sale for a whopping £3.4 million.

Originally looking to retire in his 40s, Richard sold his transport and logistics company to travel with his wife and visit as many vineyards as they possible could.

However, the retiree “soon got bored” and “felt it was too early to call it a day” and so bought a seven-bed house surrounded by vacant fields.

He even returned to school, achieving a diploma in viticulture from Plumpton College, Brighton, to learn about the technical processes of vineyards.

Richard said: “It’s been fantastic. Instead of being stuck behind a desk all day or sitting in a car all day, I’m out in the fresh air in the vineyard or I’m in the winery but I can’t go on forever.”

Being one of the most sustainable wineries in the world, the structure was originally made from straw and rendered lime mortar.

The first vines were planted back in 2006 and since then Richard and his wife have developed the site to what it is now.

Describing the original farm house as “basically falling down” the money the couple have spent to renovate has clearly paid off in the long run.

Their venture in producing wine has developed beyond a retirement hobby with the pair establishing sales in Michelin star restaurants and others across the globe.

Richard even found a South African winemaker, Jean Du Plessis, to oversee the incredible feat ensuring the smooth-running of the wine produce.

Despite the challenging weather that the UK climate can bring, Richard continued to explain how much he enjoys the process.

Beyond the environment, Richard has other factors that are out of his control including the steep levy which UK wine is subject to.

From February 1, the number of tax bands for wine is expected to increase from one to 30 and Richard claims that supermarkets have been frustrated with the move to hike up taxes on the products.

Despite the few negatives, he still works three days a week across the different vineyards which have pinot noir, chardonnay, albarino and other hybrid varieties planted.

With the wine being particularly popular amongst young people, the business has been exported to Canada, Singapore and Hong Kong.

They now hope to find further buyers elsewhere, including Scandinavia.

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RACHEL Reeves is under pressure to soften a Budget tax raid on bosses amid warnings it would strangle growth.

Insiders believe the Chancellor could now back away from raising employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs).

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It comes amid furious claims such a rise would breach Labour’s manifesto.

Ms Reeves was instead said to be considering a lesser move to levy NICs on firms’ pension contributions.

She was also believed to be eyeing a £1billion inheritance tax grab on shares in small and medium-sized firms currently exempt from the levy.

Ministers are considering raising fuel duty despite warnings it would contradict their vow to protect working people.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the mooted employer NIC rise would not break Labour’s election pledges.

He did not deny that an extended freeze to income tax thresholds would drag an extra million workers into paying higher rates.

It came as a report warned taxing businesses would further damage UK competitiveness on the world stage.

Britain ranks 30th out of 38 OECD nations for competitiveness and could plunge further.

Daniel Herring, from The Centre for Policy Studies, said: “There’s a real danger that Britain could end up with one of the least competitive and most anti-growth tax systems in the OECD if the expected tax rises come to fruition.”

Tina McKenzie, from the Federation of Small Businesses, said the Budget must deliver “on the growth promises in the election”.

She said: “The Chancellor should back small firms to deliver more jobs, better pay and fire up our economy.”

AS Halloween draws near, planning for the October 31 fright fest goes into overdrive.

But it doesn’t have to be all about pumpkins and lollipops – the supermarkets also have some splendidly spooky cakes.

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Prices are often not too scary either, and they are a great option if you do not have the time to bake.

Lynsey Hope tasted some and gives her verdicts and ratings out of five . . . 

Marks & Spencer Mini Halloween Pumpkin Cakes, £4 for four: 4/5

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DESCRIBED as “mini” but these are quite substantial, even for a chocolate lover like me.

The chocolate sponge is moist and delicious and is filled with a sweet orange buttercream which I could not get enough of, though there was plenty of it.

The cakes are then dipped in orange icing so they look like pumpkins.

Not as cheap as some other own brands but delicious.

Fun and tasty party treat.

Iceland Giant Eyeball Dessert, £7: 4/5

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A REAL showstopper, this stand-out creation is most impressive.

A Victoria sponge with layers of raspberry and white chocolate mousse, it comes frozen and is designed to look like an eyeball – all at a competitive price.

The kids were delighted and it tasted fab. The sponge is moist and the cake is covered in a yummy white chocolate shell.

You need to defrost in the fridge for 12 hours or so before eating.

Sainsbury’s Spooky Tray Bake, £7: 5/5

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HALLOWEEN version of one of those rectangular chocolate birthday cakes.

The sponge is really tasty – moist and not too sweet – and it is topped with a creamy chocolate butter- cream, white drizzle and sugar-paste eyeballs.

The design is simple but just the thing for scare season.

The kids scoffed it eagerly and I reckon it would go down a storm at any party.

Fiona Cairns Seasonal Fairy Cakes, £7 for six, Waitrose: 3/5

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DELICATE-looking delights in pretty pastel colours, these are dainty as can be and not as scary or spooky as other offerings.

They taste lovely, though.

The sponge is light and moreish and the icing is spot on. Also, they were not as sickly as some cakes can be.

A tasty option if you are not too keen on the thought of little ones gobbling ghouls or eyeballs and other scary bakes for their Halloween party tea.

Lidl Sticky Toffee Halloween Muffins, 99p each: 3/5

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GREAT to have an option that is not chocolate.

These muffins have a lovely flavour that is perfect for this time of year.

The taste was subtle enough for the kids to enjoy and the sponge was moist and moreish.

The muffins did not exactly stand out on the shop shelf against some prettier cakes, with just a splodge of toffee sauce and a chocolate ghost on top.

But they did taste delicious.

Morrisons Super Scary Cupcakes, £5: 2/5

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I LOVED the look of these scary cakes – especially the eyeball ones, which really put you in a spooky mood.

They would be fabulous as part of a Halloween party spread, and the kids and I could not wait to tuck in.

The sponge was pretty good but the icing tasted just a little artificial, and too sugary.

These cakes score well for appearance, not so well once in the mouth.

Asda Horror Emporium Miles The Millipede Cake, £7.50: 1/5

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MILES’ sponge tasted a little dry and flavourless and the chocolate coating separated from the cake as I cut into it.

He looks cute, though, and the sugar decorations are a delight without being overpowering.

Pack says this serves 12 but I reckon that is a bit tight.

You get better value with the Sainsbury’s tray-bake, which is 50p cheaper, and Iceland’s offering is a bit more fun.

Aldi Halloween Mini Cupcakes, £1.75 for nine: 3/5

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SMALL but tasty. And their modest size means these are not too much of a sugar overload for little ones – though you will want to tuck in too.

They were pretty good value for a pack of nine.

Nothing really blew me away, tastewise, but they were decent enough. And the decorations were sufficiently spooky.

Maybe just a bit too middle of the road.