A North Yorkshire councillor and former publican has called for more support for the county’s pubs and hospitality businesses, saying the "system is stacked against them".
Councillor Mike Schofield has warned that recent closures in North Yorkshire risk hollowing out communities.
The Green Party councillor for the Harlow and St Georges division in Harrogate says he knows first-hand how hard it can be for the sector after he had to close the Shepherds Dog pub in Harrogate in June last year due to rising costs.
He has highlighted figures from the British Beer and Pub Association, which show that 33 pubs in North Yorkshire have been lost since 2016.
The councillor said:
“We’re seeing pubs disappear not because communities don’t value them, but because the system is stacked against them.
“Pubs are social infrastructure — they’re meeting places, support networks and often the last remaining community space in a village or neighbourhood. Once they’re gone, they’re gone for good.”
Cllr Schofield has called on North Yorkshire Council to use tools already within its control — including business rates relief, planning policy and licensing practice — to prevent further closures.
“Obviously, we’re looking forward to hearing what the Government’s u-turn on the planned 76 per cent business rates hike for pubs will look like – but even with that support, there are things that we as a council can do to support the sector.”
“The council can’t change VAT or alcohol duty, but it can choose whether it quietly manages decline or actively supports local pubs and hospitality businesses.
“That means targeted rates relief, stronger planning protection, fair licensing, and backing community ownership where pubs are under threat.”
The councillor also stressed that pubs are part of a wider hospitality ecosystem that underpins town centre vitality, tourism and employment across North Yorkshire.
He added:
“When hospitality suffers, town centres suffer. Jobs are lost, streets go dark earlier, and places feel less safe and less alive.
“Supporting hospitality isn’t a niche issue — it’s about jobs, and the future of our high streets and communities.”
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