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Marina Business Rates U-Turn Welcomed



Property consultancy Vail Williams has welcomed a Government U-turn on marinas being excluded from lower rate multipliers in the forthcoming business rates revaluation as a ‘victory for common sense’.


The firm, which acts for a number of the UK’s top marina operators covering multiple sites, is now conveying the news to clients.


This move brings marinas into the same category as retail and leisure businesses such as pubs and restaurants. Business rates will continue to be administered by local authorities.


The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) updated the rateable values of all commercial, and other non-domestic, properties in England and Wales which take effect from 1 April.


The Government announced that from 2026/27, existing business rate relief for retail, hospitality or leisure (RHL) properties would be replaced by a lower rates multiplier to calculate the business rates payable on those properties.


However, marinas were specifically excluded from the RHL lower rates multiplier and faced being subjected to the standard business rates multiplier which applies to non-RHL business properties.

Following a campaign backed by industry body British Marine, the Government has announced a refinement in the Statutory Instrument (SI) defining which properties would be eligible for the new RHL business rates multipliers that will be coming into effect in April.


Dan Tomlinson, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury announced the change in a letter to British Marine CEO Lesley Robinson. He said:

“I recognise that marinas are distinct from transport properties and that they form part of the infrastructure of leisure activity. Furthermore, the intention has always been for the scope of the new multipliers to broadly reflect the scope of the current RHL relief. Thank you for bringing to my attention that local authorities are currently awarding RHL relief to marinas."

“The Government will therefore be amending the SI ahead of the policy coming into force on 1 April to remove marinas from Schedule 1. This means that marinas with rateable values below £500,000 and that are wholly or mainly used for leisure/recreational purposes will be eligible for the lower business rates multipliers.”


“Ahead of then, the online guidance will be updated, and local authorities will be made aware of the upcoming amendment.”


The reversal means that qualifying marinas will benefit from the 43 pence RHL rate, rather than the standard 48 pence rate.


Vail Williams partner and head of business rates Adam Barnfield said:

“This U-turn can be considered to be a victory for common sense and will benefit the vast majority of marinas which qualify for the lower business rates multipliers."

“However, there have been significant increases in the VOA assessments of the rateable value applied to marinas, with an average 23% increase in values and an additional £5.8 million of rateable value” – which equates to approximately £2.5m in additional revenue for the treasury.”


“Although this is obviously a welcome change in stance from Government, the increase in RV and the removal of the existing retail, hospitality and leisure relief will still have a significant impact on business rates liabilities.”


Ian Froome, Vail Williams partner and head of marine & leisure, added that the upcoming amendment regarding lower rates measures would be welcomed by marina operators as a silver lining, but there would certainly be increased costs all around.

“We cannot say there will be euphoria regarding this refinement in the revaluation process, but it is a cushioning of the significant increases faced by marina operators and should be accepted as such.”

Business rates revaluation 2026.


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    Paul Andrews
  • Oct 19, 2023
  • 2 min read

Wonderworld Soft Play, a leading name in family entertainment, is proud to mark its 10th anniversary with a remarkable journey of success and now targeting further expansion into England. What began as a single location a decade ago has now blossomed into a thriving group of entertainment brands with multiple locations spanning across Scotland.


Since its inception in 2013, Wonderworld Soft Play has consistently delivered top-notch entertainment for families and children and sourced the largest locations, making it the go-to for soft play in Scotland.


Today, its parent company, Wonderworld Group boasts an impressive portfolio of brands and locations, with sites in Glasgow, East Kilbride, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Kirkcaldy, Perth and London, catering to the enjoyment of hundreds of thousands of families each year.


The growth of Wonderworld Group has been fuelled by the introduction of various new experiences including AirThrill and Electric Thrill and the continued expansion of Wonderworld Soft Play, each offering a unique and thrilling experience for visitors of all ages. AirThrill in particular has been a huge growth story, providing inflatable and trampoline parks for older children and has expanded from two to five sites over the last three years.


With 11 units across Scotland and 1 in England, Wonderworld Group has become a key player in the UK leisure and family entertainment industry and with over 400 people on its payroll, the company has been able to offer exceptional experiences, setting itself apart as Scotland's largest family entertainment provider.


The Group has had the privilege of welcoming more than 4 million visitors over the past decade, a testament to its commitment to providing safe, entertaining, and enjoyable experiences and they’re now set to welcome even more children and families through their doors. Revenue is also on track to exceed £13 million for the current financial year with EBITDA projected to be around £2.5 million.


Outside of day-to-day operations, the Group recognises that it has an important role in supporting local communities too and recently cemented their place as a legacy partner and national sponsor of the Glasgow Children’s Charity.


Narinder Singh Baryah, Managing Director of Wonderworld Group, who has been at the helm of the company for the last two years, expressed his excitement for the company's growth and future plans, saying, "It has been an incredible journey for Wonderworld over the past decade. We’re passionate about our core mission of providing safe, exciting, and memorable experiences for families and this is reflected in the evolution of our offering that results in customers continuing to come back to our venues."


“Looking ahead, we are excited to announce our expansion plans into England over the next two to three years. We’re very proud of what we’ve achieved so far and our teams will continue to create joyful memories for families while navigating the exciting, challenging, and ultimately rewarding journey of running a business which isn’t all child’s play”.


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