Independent shops, pubs and venues across the Stroud constituency are set to benefit from changes to business rates announced in last week’s budget, according to Stroud MP Dr Simon Opher.
Writing for the Stroud Times, Dr Opher said hundreds of businesses had been given “an important break”. He said independent retailers account for between 60% and 70% of town-centre businesses locally, compared with a 40% national average.
The changes are intended to reduce costs for smaller retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, while giving larger operators greater certainty over their bills. Dr Opher said he had lobbied with colleagues during the past year for what he described as a fairer rating system.
What the new relief means for local businesses
From next April, the threshold for 100% Small Business Rates Relief will rise from £12,000 to £18,000 for qualifying retail, hospitality and leisure businesses. The change is expected to remove hundreds of small businesses from the business-rates system altogether.
Tapered relief will also be extended to businesses with rateable values of up to £21,000. This could help firms that are above the full-relief threshold but still below the level at which they would otherwise face the standard rates bill.
For mid-sized venues above those thresholds, the Government is introducing a real-terms freeze on rates bills for two years. The measure is designed to prevent above-inflation increases and provide more predictable costs during a period of global economic uncertainty.
Support for Stroud pubs and live music venues
Local pubs and live music venues will receive a 35% relief package. The column says the average pub is expected to save around £3,000 a year under the measure.
Dr Opher said the support recognised the role of pubs and live music venues in local communities and in the area’s way of life. He also argued that encouraging residents to shop locally would help make communities more resilient, rather than allowing profits to flow to distant corporations.
The MP said the budget was a significant step in the right direction, but added that more remained to be done. He said he was continuing to work with colleagues to campaign for a reduction in VAT for the hospitality sector.
The column was published by Stroud Times in early November 2026, with the article carrying an update date of November 2 and a byline dated November 3.
