She said she would face higher bills in the New Year and costs had gone up “astronomically”.
Her pub’s rateable value – the official estimate of its annual rental value used to calculate business rates – is currently £19,250. From April, it will rise to £42,000, significantly increasing her business rates bill.
At the Oxfordshire Yeoman in Freeland, it is a similar story.
General manager Ms Byrom said it had been “hard to make a profit out of anything this year”.
“I’m finding myself working 80 hours a week – I’m just having to get my head down and get on with it because you have to keep the doors open and give the customers what they expect and need,” she said.
Ms Sumner agreed and said: “People are having to pick and choose when they come out and reduce the amount of times that they’re coming to their local pub.”