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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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  • Writer: Linda Andrews - Editorial Assistant, Nuse Online
    Linda Andrews - Editorial Assistant, Nuse Online
  • Jan 8, 2025
  • 3 min read

Richard Fuller will join The Jockey Club’s Board of Stewards for 2025. The Board of Stewards effectively serves as The Jockey Club’s board of non-executive directors, with the historic title of ‘Steward’ used as a reminder of the organisation’s heritage.


Fuller was elected a Member of The Jockey Club in 2019 and in the same year also took on the role of Chair at Kempton Park, having first been appointed to the racecourse committee there in 2016.


His significant experience in business includes serving as a Board Director of pub and hotel operator, Fuller Smith and Turner PLC. He is also Chairman of the Point-to-Point Racing Company, Trustee of the Wavertree Education Trust and Chairman of the Cotswold Cider Company and a former Chairman of the Point-to-Point Owners and Riders Association.


Fuller’s wife Charlotte trains jumps horses from home and they have two children, their eldest being the former professional Jump jockey Page Fuller.


The Board of Stewards from 1st January 2025 will be:


  • Baroness Harding of Winscombe (Senior Steward)

  • The Lord Grimthorpe (Deputy Senior Steward)

  • Mr Richard Fuller

  • Mr Wiliam Rucker

  • Mr William Sporborg

  • Mr Tim Syder

  • Mr Sam Waley-Cohen

  • Lady Carolyn Warren

  • Mr William Wyatt


It is also announced that a further five Members of The Jockey Club have been elected:


Emma Banks

Co-Head of Creative Artists Agency’s London office, Emma is agent to music superstars Kylie Minogue and Katy Perry amongst others. A racecourse committee member at Sandown Park, she is a successful and enthusiastic owner-breeder with her star performer being Lady Bowthorpe, winner of the Group One Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood in 2021.


Jeremy Bradbeer

A qualified solicitor who currently serves as Chairman of a firm of headhunters operating in the legal profession, Jeremy has been a member of the racecourse committee at Nottingham since 2022, becoming Chair at the start of 2023. He was previously a racecourse committee member at Market Rasen and has acted as a raceday steward at a range of courses including Leicester, Southwell, Market Rasen and Pontefract.


Johnny Eddis

Managing Director of Rothschild and Co, Johnny has served as Chairman of the Racing Industry Accident Benefit Scheme (RIABS) for 10 years and as a Trustee of Racing Welfare for six years. An owner-breeder, his gelding Alarazi won the 2011 Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle at Sandown Park.


Matthew Lohn

Matthew has worked as solicitor for almost 30 years at Fieldfisher and was the firm's Senior Partner until 2019. He has a broad range of experience in sports law and has chaired disciplinary panels of the British Horseracing Authority and Rugby Football Union as well as the National Anti-Doping Panel. He has been Chair of Newmarket Racecourses since the beginning of 2024.


Jayne McGivern

One of the world’s leading construction executives, Jayne has more than 35 years of experience in infrastructure and urban redevelopment mega-project delivery, having overseen several high profile projects including the redevelopment of the former Millennium Dome, Wembley Stadium and more recently the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas. A racing and breeding enthusiast, she is also the owner of the 2015 Derby winner Golden Horn, who she purchased in 2022 and stands at Overbury Stud.

Commenting on all of the appointments, Baroness Harding, Senior Steward of The Jockey Club, said:

“We are delighted to announce the election of five new Members of The Jockey Club. They all bring them with them a wealth of experience from the wider world as well as a keen interest and involvement in the sport of horseracing."

“It is also fantastic to be welcoming Richard Fuller to the Board of Stewards from the start of next year. His extensive involvement with Kempton Park over the past few years has been hugely valued and with a strong background in the hospitality sector and racing he will prove a great addition to the Board.”

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