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Pharmacy bodies, including Community Pharmacy England (CPE), have called for pharmacies to be included in the 20% cut to business rates that pubs, clubs and live music venues in England will receive from April 2027.
On 23 July 2026, the government announced that pubs, clubs and live music venues in England will receive a 20% cut to their business rates bills from April 2027.
In a statement published the same day as the announcement, Janet Morrison, chief executive of CPE, said: “Despite their vital role in improving the health of local communities, pharmacies don’t get their business rates reimbursed by the NHS, in contrast with GP practices and dental surgeries.
“CPE has long called to end this unfair disparity, with pharmacies either having their costs fully covered, or given the same rates relief as other healthcare providers,” she added.
“We again set out a clear case for business rates relief during this year’s funding negotiations and will put these arguments forward to Mr Burnham and his government.”
The recent concession for hospitality venues follows a government announcement, published in January 2026, which stated that pubs and live music venues would be given a 15% business rates relief. At that time, pharmacy bodies called for community pharmacies to be included.
On 22 July 2026, both the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) and the Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA) wrote separately to Andy Burnham after he took office as the new prime minister, congratulating him on his appointment. They also pressed him to support community pharmacies, including through business rates relief.
Following the government’s announcement of further reductions that did not include pharmacies, Henry Gregg, chief executive of the NPA, commented: “While hard-pressed pubs and clubs will be pleased to have a tax break, pharmacies will be dismayed that they continue to be hit by the full force of this fast-rising tax, despite their pivotal role holding our high streets and 90% of their funding coming from the NHS.
“Pharmacies are central to NHS care in their communities yet don’t have any of the concessions on rates enjoyed by GPs or other parts of the health service.”
Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the IPA, said: “Whilst today’s announcement will be welcomed by many high-street businesses, it does nothing for pharmacies, which once again have been left behind.
“It remains absurd that community pharmacies are expected to pay full business rates, while other parts of the NHS, such as GP surgeries and dental practices, receive relief for the NHS services they provide.”
A spokesperson from HM Treasury said: “We recognise the important role that pharmacies play in communities across the country and the contribution they make to local high streets.
“That’s why they already benefit from permanently lower business rates multipliers and our £4.3bn support package to limit bills rises, alongside capping corporation tax at 25%, cutting red tape and taking action on the cost of living to boost high streets.
“Today’s announcement is a targeted measure to support pubs, clubs and live music venues, which are at the heart of many communities and have faced significant pressures in recent years.”
