Reopening of The Bayford Inn in Wincanton

That this House celebrates the re-opening of The Bayford Inn in Wincanton, formerly known as The Unicorn Inn; notes that the pub was saved from permanent closure owing to the generosity of over 70 residents from Bayford, who secured the pub at auction, with The Bayford Inn Benefits Society Limited, a Community Benefit Society, having launched a share offer to provide funds to cover the cost of the business's refurbishment; recognises that this community owned freehouse and former 17th Century coaching inn, has been at the heart of Bayford’s community for over 250 years; understands that by re-opening the pub as a community pub, the residents of Bayford have created a welcoming community enterprise, committed to supporting local businesses, by serving locally sourced home cooked food, beer, wines and cider, contributing to Somerset’s rural economy; regrets that the Government has chosen to only reduce the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure business rates multiplier by 5p rather than the 20p cut legislated for in the Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Act; and calls on the Government to cut businesses rates by their legislated 20p and introduce an emergency 5% VAT cut for hospitality, accommodation and attraction businesses to help counter the rising costs threatening their viability.