If you have a retail, hospitality or leisure property you may be eligible for a business rate discount.

From 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 the discount is 75%.

From 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 the discount is 50%.

How to get the discount

You can apply for this discount if you think your property qualifies, and we'll assess your application.

2023 to 2024 relief

The 2023-24 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Rates Relief scheme will provide eligible, occupied, retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a 75% relief, up to a cash cap limit of £110,000 per business.

Apply for business rate discount 2023-24

If you've already been told that you've been awarded the 2023-24 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Rates Relief, we might have asked you to complete Form A or Form B:

Form A

Form B

2022 to 2023 relief

You must submit a seperate application and declaration for each financial year. Applications for 2022 to 2023 will close on 30 September 2023.

The 2022-23 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Rates Relief scheme will provide eligible, occupied, retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a 50% relief, up to a cash cap limit of £110,000 per business.

Apply for business rate discount 2022-23

If your business has, together with any other companies in the same group for Cash Cap purposes, received Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief/Expanded Retail Discount from any other local Authorities, you will need to include document Expanded Retail Discount Additional Values document Go to index.php?option=com_docman&view=document&alias=197-expanded-retail-discount-additional-values&category_slug=documents-1&Itemid=159 (opens new window) (14 KB)  telling us the:

  • other properties' reference number
  • local authority providing relief or discount
  • properties' address
  • value of Expanded Retail Discount received for each

Email business.rates@bristol.gov.uk if your business does not wish to receive the Expanded Retail Discount in respect of a hereditament in the Bristol area.

You should quote the business rate account numbers for which you do not wish to receive the discount as well as the date from which you do not wish the discount to be applied.

Retail Hospitality and Leisure Relief Eligibility

Properties that will benefit from the relief will be occupied hereditaments that are wholly or mainly being used:

  • as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues
  • for assembly and leisure
  • as hotels, guest and boarding premises and self-catering accommodation

The government has guidance on the types of businesses that fall within each of the above categories and the authority will consider this when making any decision regarding entitlement.

Ineligible properties

The list below sets out the types of uses that we don't consider to be retail use for the purpose of this discount:

  • retail properties that are being used for the provision of the following services to visiting members of the public such as:
    • financial services such as banks, building societies, cash points, bureau de change, payday lenders, betting shops, pawn brokers
    • medical services such as vets, dentists, doctors, osteopaths, chiropractors
    • professional services such as solicitors, accountants, insurance agents/ financial advisers; and
    • post office sorting offices
  • retail properties that are not reasonably accessible to visiting members of the public