Rating

Business rates are a perennially difficult problem for licensed leisure operators – and the April 2010 rating valuation is no exception. Inevitably, the Valuation Office makes some mistakes, almost always in its favour. Our job is to present the evidence and ensure that our clients are given a fair assessment. Among the most common errors we’ve found are measuring the floor area incorrectly, misunderstanding local market trends and a lack of knowledge about changes in the local area.

Among clients we’re currently advising are:

• Nando’s – so far, we’ve saved them more than £2 million in rates payable and that figure is set to rise as a result of challenges to the 2010 valuation
• Union Pub Company – we’re currently appealing against assessments on sites in Chiswick, Paddington and Shepherd’s Bush
• Wahaca – the fast-growing chain of Mexican restaurants, with sites in Covent Garden, Canary Wharf and Westfield