2017 RICS benchmarking figures put the national average rent on pubs at £37,691 - nearly twice Sunak's top estimate. Many have voiced concern that any support for hospitality that will be announced at Wednesday's budget could be based on these figures, which are described as being 'fundamentally wrong'.It could mean that pubs and restaurants would not receive - and have not received so far - the sums they need to survive through the coming months of restrictions and closures.
Sunak's statement was described as ' Stark raving mad ' on Twitter, with one pub landlord adding that he was ' misleading the country and making us look like fools '.
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