Business groups urge Burnham to cut taxes and repeal football drinking ban as pub industry mounts pressure campaign

From the Newshound archive · first published 24 September 2026.

Andy Burnham is facing a wave of demands from business groups and industry bodies to slash taxes and ease regulations on the hospitality sector. The New West End Company, representing 800 businesses, is warning that the West End risks losing ground to Paris, Tokyo and New York without immediate cuts to business rates and a new retail crime agency. Burnham has also signalled he wants to repeal the ban on drinking alcohol in football stands, calling the legislation outdated and discriminatory against fans.

Over 100 Scottish chefs and hospitality firms, including restaurateur Tom Kitchin and Great British Menu winner Lorna McNee, have signed an open letter demanding VAT for the sector be cut from 20% to 10%.

There is reportedly a separate push urging Burnham to cut 10p off the price of a pint, with backers arguing it would create thousands of jobs across the country.

The West End alone pays around £17bn in tax each year and contributes eight per cent of the UK's entire business rates bill, figures that NWEC says make the case for urgent reform unanswerable.