Standing inside a Wimbledon GP surgery, surrounded by prescription posters and NHS leaflets, pubs were not the obvious topic of conversation with the prime minister.
But with a number of pubs, cafés and restaurants across south London shutting their doors in the past year due to rising costs, it felt like a question that mattered just as much to residents as prescription prices or NHS reform.
Sir Keir Starmer was visiting Nelson Medical Practice in Kingston Road to promote the government’s decision to freeze NHS prescription charges for a second year in a move that will save patients around £12 million nationally.
After discussing health policy and funding disparities between boroughs, I asked him what help might be coming for the hospitality sector.
Speaking exclusively to Your Local Guardian, Sir Keir acknowledged the pressure pubs and restaurants are under and said the government is actively working with the industry.
He said: “We’re working with the sector at the moment, and we’re looking at what further support we can put in.”
He added that he expects the government to be “able to deal with that in the coming days”.
Sir Keir framed hospitality support as part of a wider cost-of-living strategy, arguing that helping households financially would, in turn, help struggling businesses.
He added: “There’s another aspect to this.
“It’s more likely that people will go out to have a drink or something to eat if they’ve got more money in their pocket.”
He pointed to recent government measures aimed at easing pressure on households, including higher minimum wages, money off energy bills, freezing rail fares and freezing prescription charges.
“All of those things mean people have a bit more money in their pocket, which makes them more likely to go out.”
In 2025, several pubs, cafes, and restaurants in south London closed, including Two Brewers in Croydon, TazZa Coffee in Sutton, and Ocean Basket restaurant in Bromley.
Owners often cited the cost-of-living crisis and rising prices as the reason for the closures.
The prime minister did not outline any specific new scheme for pubs during the interview, but his comments suggest hospitality support is being considered as part of upcoming government decisions.
From prescription charges to pint prices, Sir Keir’s message was clear: easing the cost-of-living squeeze is key to getting Britain’s pubs and restaurants busy again.
