Prince William declares 'we need to protect pubs' in direct message to Rachel Reeves during East London visit

The Prince of Wales has demanded pubs be protected during a visit to East London this afternoon.William has long championed the importance of pubs to local communities and today told residents of Peckham he grew up in pubs, as he waxed lyrical about the historic institutions.I love pubs. I want to do as much as I can to support them because I love the community, he told locals.We need to protect our pubs. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The comments come as the hospitality industry continues to struggle amid rising business rates and the cost of employment under Chancellor Rachel Reeves.It is estimated one pub a day closed its doors for good last year, while the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) say 161 pubs have already shut in the first three months of this year across England, Scotland and Wales in 2026.This equates to the loss of around 2,400 jobs, forcing the Chancellor to announce a support package for those struggling.The package includes a 15 per cent discount on business taxes for one year, followed by a two-year freeze on bills.But the future King is on a mission to reverse the trend.William declared this afternoon that he could stay here forever, as he expertly poured himself a pint of the popular Jamaican lager Red Stripe at the Prince of Peckham pub, gaining the approval of Clem Ogbonnaya, the owner of the bar, who received an MBE in the New Year's Honours.The 43-year-old prince continued to express his admiration for publicans, adding: It’s the people – the team – around a pub that make it. LATEST ROYAL NEWSPrincess of Wales releases heartfelt statement after being left 'saddened' by tragic accidentPippa's husband awaits verdict in footpath row as inquiry hears closing argumentsCatherine declares her love for Prince William in candid confessionBefore his boozy visit came to a close, William gave a characteristic quip after he tried the pub's jerk chicken offering: It blew my mind, he said. I'm hoping Deliveroo can deliver this to Windsor!Speaking after the prince's visit, Mr Ogbonnaya said pubs are being underused and that communities can make more of their local.He said: The key thing he was talking about was how do we, because there are a lot of disenfranchised young black Britons in the country, how do we address that? How do we get more of these spaces with all of this energy, all this love and enthusiasm throughout the whole of London?According to the BBPA, Britain has lost more than 16,000 pubs since the start of the millennium, with figures dropping every year, 2004 being the only exception.Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said profits are wiped out by a disproportionate tax burden and huge costs and said the organisation wants to work with government to find solutions.Increases in National Insurance, alcohol tax, and minimum wage coincided with Ms Reeves's Budget announcement Covid business rates relief for the hospitality sector would end in April 2026.A government spokesman previously said it was backing Britain's pubs by the discount on business rates and two-year freeze, coupled with extending opening hours for the upcoming World Cup and increasing the Hospitality Support Fund to £10million.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter