Hospitality News letter
Autumn 2026
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LICENSED VICTUALLERS NEWS FLASH – October 2026
5 THINGS THE TRADE NEEDS TO KNOW
DIGITAL ID IS NOW AN OPTION
Since 15 September 2026, licensed premises in England and Wales can choose to accept certified digital proof of age when selling alcohol.
It is optional – you can continue using physical ID and your existing age-verification procedures.
If you decide to accept digital ID, it must meet the Government’s requirements and be checked through a certified digital verification service.
Challenge 25 hasn’t disappeared – the responsibility to prevent underage sales remains.
💷 BUSINESS RATES – MORE HELP COMING
Eligible pubs and live music venues are currently receiving 15% business rates relief for 2026/27.
From April 2027, the Government has announced a further 20% business rates discount for pubs, social clubs and live music venues, subject to the detailed eligibility arrangements.
There is also a Government review of how pub and hotel business rates are calculated, with businesses invited to submit evidence by 16 October 2026.
💰 £10 MILLION HOSPITALITY GRANT
A new £10 million, three-year Hospitality Grant Scheme is now open.
It is aimed at independent pubs, restaurants and cafés and can support projects including new hospitality ventures, bringing vacant premises back into use, training and community projects.
Applications are currently open until 13 October 2026.
If you’ve got an idea for your premises or community, this is definitely worth investigating.
👩🍳 SEXUAL HARASSMENT – 30 OCTOBER
From 30 October 2026, employers will have a stronger legal duty to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment at work.
There will also be new protection relating to harassment by third parties, including customers and clients.
Now is a good time to check your policies, staff training and reporting procedures.
🍽️ VAT – STILL ON THE AGENDA
The temporary 5% VAT rate for qualifying children’s meals and certain family attractions ended on 1 September 2026.
The normal VAT rules now apply again.
VAT remains a major issue for the hospitality industry and is one that KLVA will continue to keep an eye on.
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📌 DON’T GET CAUGHT OUT
A quick check now could save a much bigger headache later.
☑ Licensing and licence conditions
☑ Challenge 25 and age verification
☑ Staff training
☑ Sexual harassment policies
☑ Business rates and reliefs
☑ Tips and service charges
☑ Fire and food safety procedures
TRADE NEWS IN FULL
October 2026 – What you need to know
Running a pub, club, restaurant or other licensed premises keeps us busy enough, so we’ve picked out some of the latest changes and news that could actually affect you and your business.
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🚨 DON’T GET CAUGHT OUT: DIGITAL ID IS HERE
From 15 September, licensed premises in England and Wales can choose to accept certified digital proof of age when selling alcohol.
Customers can use an approved app on their phone to prove they are over 18 without showing a physical driving licence or passport.
You don’t have to introduce digital ID if you don’t want to. Your existing ID-checking arrangements can continue.
If you do decide to accept digital ID, make sure your staff know exactly what your premises accepts and how to check it.
Challenge 25 doesn’t disappear just because someone’s got an app!
Read the Government guidance on digital proof of age
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💷 BUSINESS RATES – SOME GOOD NEWS
There is some welcome news for pubs, clubs and live music venues.
From April 2027, the Government has announced an additional 20% cut to business rates bills for eligible pubs, social clubs and live music venues in England.
The Government estimates that the typical pub could save around £1,100 a year.
For the current 2026/27 year, eligible pubs and live music venues can already receive 15% relief.
So, if you’ve not checked your business rates bill recently, now would be a good time to do it.
Check the Government’s business rates information
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💰 £10 MILLION HOSPITALITY GRANT
Here’s one worth looking into.
A new £10 million Hospitality Grant Scheme has been launched to support independent pubs, restaurants and cafés.
The money is intended to help with things such as:
🍻 Starting new hospitality businesses
🏚️ Bringing empty premises back into use
👩🍳 Training and employment opportunities
🏘️ Supporting community venues
💡 Improving productivity and sustainability
More than £3 million has been earmarked for Pub is The Hub, which supports pubs that provide additional services to their local communities.
If you’ve got an idea that could benefit your premises or community, it’s worth investigating.
Read the Hospitality Grant Scheme information
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👩🍳 STAFF & EMPLOYMENT – MORE CHANGES COMING
Hospitality employers have plenty to keep up with when it comes to employment law.
One particularly important date is 30 October 2026.
Employers will have a stronger legal duty to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment at work.
This is especially relevant to hospitality businesses where staff can be dealing with customers, suppliers and members of the public.
Now is a good time to check:
✔ Your harassment policy
✔ How staff report concerns
✔ Staff training
✔ How complaints are dealt with
✔ What happens when inappropriate behaviour comes from a customer
“That’s just the pub trade” isn’t an acceptable excuse.
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🍽️ TIPS – ARE YOU DOING IT CORRECTLY?
Tips and service charges remain an important issue for employers and employees.
Businesses should continue to make sure tips are distributed fairly and transparently and that staff understand how your system works.
If you’ve changed your tipping or service-charge arrangements recently, it’s worth checking that your policy is still compliant.
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🥂 VAT – STILL A HOT TOPIC
VAT continues to be one of the biggest issues being discussed by the hospitality industry.
The temporary 5% VAT rate for certain children’s meals and family attractions ended on 1 September 2026.
Hospitality businesses and industry organisations continue to call for changes to VAT for the sector.
For now, the standard VAT position remains unchanged for most hospitality sales.
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📋 YOUR 10-MINUTE CHECK-UP
If you’ve got 10 minutes this week, why not check:
☑ Business rates
Are you receiving all the relief you’re entitled to?
☑ Staff training
Do your staff know what to do if there is a safeguarding, harassment or licensing issue?
☑ Challenge 25
Is your ID policy clear and being followed?
☑ Licensing
Are your premises licence, DPS details and licence conditions up to date?
☑ Tips
Does everyone understand how your tips/service charge is distributed?
☑ Fire & safety
Are your records and staff training up to date?
Next news letter November 2026
