Pub and live music venue relief
The government has announced a new pub and live music venue relief, which provides a business rates discount for eligible premises.
The scheme supports venues that play an important role in local culture and the night time economy by reducing the impact of business rates increases.
Under the national relief scheme, all eligible pubs and live music venues will receive a 15% reduction on their business rates bill for the 2026–2027 billing year, with bills frozen in real terms for a further two years.
This relief is designed to help safeguard community venues that contribute to Liverpool’s cultural identity and support the city's hospitality and music sectors.
If you are eligible, the relief will appear on your bill for 2026/27 automatically - you do not need to apply.
Eligibility
Your premises may qualify for the relief if it meets the national definitions for either a pub or a live music venue.
Pubs
To be eligible, a premises must:
- be open to the general public
- allow free entry, except on occasions when entertainment is provided
- allow drinking without requiring food purchase
- permit drinks to be purchased at a bar
The following do not qualify as pubs for the relief:
- restaurants, cafés, nightclubs, snack bars
- hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses
- sporting venues
- festival sites, theatres, concert halls, cinemas
- museums, exhibition halls, casinos
Live music venues
A venue may qualify if it is:
- wholly or mainly used for the performance of live music for an audience
- used for other activities only when these are incidental (e.g. food/drink sales) and do not change the primary use of the premises
Premises do not qualify if they are mainly used as a nightclub or theatre.
We will assess eligibility based on how the venue is used and whether it reflects the natural meaning of a pub or live music venue.
If you think you should be entitled to the pub and live music venue relief please email business.rates@liverpool.gov.uk