RE: Labour Party Conference Fringe: Inn-Valuable 2024 | unlocking the social and economic value of our nation’s pubs
Labour Party Conference Fringe: Panel debate and report launch on future of the local
Time and venue: Monday 23rd September from 3.00 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. , Maldron Hotel Liverpool (Albert Room), 2 Park Lane, Liverpool L1 8AW
https://www.maldronhotels.com/liverpool/location/
The context to our session is that pubs have long stood as familiar and welcoming landmarks. Their significance goes beyond mere watering holes; they have consistently played a pivotal role in knitting communities together and promoting social cohesion.
In our first report on the socio-economic value of pubs published at last year’s Labour Party, Localis reported that they serve as vital community hubs for:
- Combatting isolation.
- Supporting local causes
- Reflecting local culture
- Bringing local business together
- Supporting communities through generations.
Pubs also provide immense economic value to communities across the country where total activity amounts to, through direct and indirect impacts, a Gross Value Added of around £34bn.
Pubs are disproportionately economically important as employers and local businesses and as social infrastructure in deprived areas, where a lack of social capital assets is also linked to poorer economic outcomes.
But the survival of our pubs is imperilled by many factors; an inequitable business rates system, high beer duty and energy costs and wider cost-of-living-pressures prime among them.
A new government has the opportunity to tackle these challenges head on.
Register your place – opens in MS Forms
Speakers will include:
Chair:
Jonathan Werran, chief executive, Localis
- Tonia Antoniazzi MP, Chair, Beer APPG
- Richard Kershaw, Chief Executive, Joseph Holt
- Andy Tighe, Director of Strategy and Policy, British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA)
- Cllr Jim Robbins, Leader Swindon Council and member, Local Government Association’s Economy and Resources Board
