Aug 24, 2026Business Politics122 words1 min read

Review Launched Into Pub and Hotel Business Rates

There is a new review in England and Wales. It looks at money that pubs and hotels must pay. This money is called business rates.

Business rates are a tax. A tax is money that people pay to the government. Pubs and hotels pay this tax on their buildings.

The review will check how the government works out this tax. It wants to see if the system is fair.

The review could bring reform. Reform means big changes to make something better.

Many pub and hotel owners say the tax is too high. They hope this review can help them.

The government has not said when the review will finish. People will wait to see what changes come next.

Vocabulary15 words

business rates: money that businesses pay to the government for their buildings
tax: money people or businesses pay to the government
reform: a big change to make something better
review: when people check something carefully
system: a way of doing something with rules
government: the group of people who run a country
fair: right and equal for everyone
owners: people who own something, like a business
calculated: worked out using numbers
England: a country in the United Kingdom
Wales: a country in the United Kingdom
hotel: a place where people pay to sleep
pub: a place where people go to drink and talk
money: what people use to buy things
changes: when something becomes different

1. What does the new review look at?

2. Where is the review happening?

3. True or False: The review could lead to reform of the system.

1. How business rates are calculated for pubs and hotels 2. England and Wales 3. True

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

There is a new _____ in England and Wales. It looks at money that pubs and hotels must _____. This money is called business _____.

Business rates are a _____. A tax is money that people pay to the _____. Pubs and hotels pay this tax on their _____.

The review will check how the government works out this tax. It wants to see if the system is _____.

The review could bring _____. Reform means big changes to make something better.

Many pub and hotel _____ say the tax is too high. They hope this review can help them.

The government has not said when the review will _____. People will wait to see what _____ come next.