Entertainment, sport, hospitality, tourism and heritage are not always the first sectors people mention when talking about British business. But for towns like ours, they are not side-shows to the economy, they are a cornerstone of it.
Across the UK, these industries generate billions in tax revenue, attract overseas visitors and support millions of jobs. From world-famous cultural exports like Paddington and the Premier League, to historic market towns such as Ashby-de-la-Zouch, local gems like the Century Theatre Coalville, our brilliant sports clubs and our much-loved pubs, Britain’s cultural offer really is second to none.
But what truly matters isn’t what happens in London or Manchester, it’s what’s happening here, on our high streets, in our leisure centres and on our playing fields.
In our community, sport and leisure are woven into everyday life. Local football and cricket clubs, martial arts academies, gyms and grassroots sports organisations do far more than provide recreation. They employ local people, support the mental and physical wellbeing of young people, and act as social anchors for families. Yet many are now under intense pressure. Energy costs have soared, staffing costs have risen sharply, and business rates remain stubbornly high. For volunteer-led clubs and small operators, the sums simply don’t stack up.
Hospitality tells the same story. Our pubs, cafés and restaurants are part of our living heritage, places where communities meet, visitors stop, and charities raise vital funds. Margins are already wafer-thin and footfall remains fragile. Instead of backing these businesses, Labour’s instinct is to pile on more pressure, including hiking duty on alcohol. That is not support; it is a direct threat to the survival of pubs that are already fighting to keep their doors open.
Tourism and heritage businesses are also feeling the squeeze. Attractions that rely on seasonal trade are grappling with higher operating costs just as household budgets tighten. Fewer visitors spending less money is a dangerous combination for places that depend on tourism to survive.
These sectors are resilient, creative and hardworking, but they cannot absorb endless tax rises and regulation without consequence. When a pub closes, a sports club folds or a visitor attraction scales back, the damage is real and lasting. Jobs are lost, opportunities for young people disappear, and the character of our towns is slowly eroded.
This is why Conservatives are clear: small business matters. Conservatives understand that thriving local economies are built from the ground up, not micromanaged from Whitehall. That’s why the Conservative Party has pledged to abolish business rates for high-street pubs and shops in England, scrapping an outdated tax that punishes bricks-and-mortar businesses. In the meantime, Conservatives continue to press for expanded business rates relief and a fairer system that supports jobs, investment and vibrant high streets.
These are not abstract promises. They are practical, targeted policies that could mean the difference between survival and closure for local pubs, clubs, cafés and attractions. Entertainment, sport, hospitality, tourism and heritage are not luxuries. They are the lifeblood of our local economy, and Conservatives are the only party that truly understands and stands up for small business.
