Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith KCB CBE MP visited The Castle Inn in Skipton on Thursday, 5 June, to meet with representative from Heineken UK, Guy Mason, and the pub’s landlord, Calvin Dow, to discuss the importance of pubs to local communities and the impact of recent changes to alcohol duty.
The Castle Inn, a popular local pub in the heart of Skipton, is part of Heineken’s Star Pubs & Bars estate.
The visit included a discussion on the government’s decision to reduce alcohol duty rates for draught products by 1.7% in cash terms. The group also discussed challenges for the sector including business rates, waste processes and the impact of rises in Employer's National Insurance Contributions.
Commenting, Julian said, “Pubs like The Castle Inn are at the heart of our communities providing jobs, supporting tourism, and offering a vital social space. It was great to meet Calvin and Guy to hear about the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. I will continue to champion our local pubs in Parliament.”
