Fuller's chief blames taxes and regulation for pub closures

The head of one of Britain's largest pub chains has launched a sharp critique of the government's tax and regulatory policies, blaming them for accelerating the closure of thousands of pubs across the country. Simon Emeny, executive chairman of Fuller, Smith and Turner, said the hospitality sector has faced a decade of "unprecedented government interference, additional taxes and regulations" that are reshaping the economics of the trade.

Emeny's comments, made on June 10, 2026, come as the company reported a 13 percent fall in pre-tax profits to £29.5 million for the year ending in March, despite a six percent rise in turnover to £398 million. He attributed the profit dip partly to the one-off sale of a property the previous year, but emphasized that a rising tax bill, which reached £8 million, and escalating costs are squeezing margins.

The pub boss singled out a series of Treasury measures he said are driving operators to the wall, including increases in business rates, national insurance contributions, and alcohol duty. He also criticized wider policy initiatives such as the apprenticeship levy, packaging reforms, green energy levies, and the sugar tax, arguing the cumulative...