The Budget of 28 October 2026 raises the Small Business Rates Relief thresholds for retail, hospitality and leisure properties in England to £18,000 for full relief and £21,000 for tapered relief from April 2027, the Budget 2026 document on GOV.UK shows, and BBC News and The Guardian report it.
The market resolves on HM Treasury's Budget documents and factsheets on gov.uk on 28 October 2026, England only. YES if they announce any change to the retail, hospitality and leisure multipliers, any new or extended discount or relief for retail, hospitality, leisure or pubs, or an extension of the announced real-terms freeze beyond its current end date. Confirmation of measures already legislated at the November 2025 Budget, or the detailing of the 20 per cent pubs, clubs and live music venues cut announced on 23 July 2026, does not count. If that source has not published in time, the business rates information letter issued by MHCLG after the Budget, and BBC News settle it.
We looked at every autumn Budget or Statement from 2015 to 2025. There were ten, with none in 2019. For each one we read the letter on business rates that the government sends councils afterwards. We asked whether it brought a new or longer rates cut for shops, hospitality, leisure or pubs in England. A general freeze or help for small firms alone does not count. The page shows the last eight and counts all ten.