City Pub Company boss Clive Watson calls for changes to business rates

Clive Watson, the entrepreneur-cum-reality-TV star chairman of City Pub Company, on Wednesday urged the government to put a cap on business rates bills.

Watson, who has appeared on Made in Chelsea alongside daughters Lucy and Tiffany, said some of his firm’s 32 pubs have seen their business rate bills quadruple under rates valuations which came into effect this month.

He said: “I would ask the government for a cap so that rates bills will not be more than doubled.”

Watson revealed sales at City Pub Company rose 36.6% to £27.4 million in 2016.

“2016 was a fantastic year for the business during which we expanded our high quality estate,” he said.

The landlord of watering holes including The Phene in Chelsea, once football legend George Best’s local, is looking to float on AIM before the end of 2017.

The company believes there is potential to expand to more than 50 pubs in the next two to three years.