The landlady of a Kesgrave pub says she "feels let down" by the Budget and things are going "downwards and downwards."

Debbie McCallum has run The Bell in Kesgrave for over 20 years and says the plans to cut the duty rate on draught by 1.7% "isn't really a cut".

In her first budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced on Wednesday that cuts to draught duty rate would mean "a penny off a pint in the pub" as well as announcing an increase in minimum wage. 

The Bell in Kesgrave lies in the centre of the community and Mrs McCallum says, Pubs aren't just about drinking alcoholThe Bell in Kesgrave lies in the centre of the community and Mrs McCallum says, Pubs aren't just about drinking alcohol (Image: Google) However Mrs McCallum has said that the policies will lead to running costs going up. 

"The 1p duty cut will be eaten up by productivity and distribution costs, so there is no real cut is there?" she said.

"We all deserve to earn to earn a good wage, there's no doubt about that, I pay all of my staff the same whether they 18 or 55.

"But the increase in minimum wage and insurance hike, will result in fewer working hours, it's as simple as that.

"What can you do when your costs go up? It is always your staffing levels that are affected and that increases pressure.

"This isn't just a pub, or a space to drink alcohol, it's a safe space for many and a place which is good for people's mental health where people can communicate lots of issues."

Mrs McCallum, who is also a county councillor for Kesgrave, helped a Kesgrave teen run a mental health campaignMrs McCallum, who is also a county councillor for Kesgrave, helped a Kesgrave teen run the mental health campaign behind the Mask (Image: Office of Dr Dan Poulter) It was also announced on Wednesday that the discount on business rate will be lowered from 75% to 40% from April 2025, meaning business rates will almost double.

The landlady, who is also a Conservative county councillor, said: "I feel let down by the business rates changes, I was hoping for a bit more I think.

"Once again there has been no restructuring, they have been talking about that for years, all government's have.

"The bottom line will rise again, we have been here 20 years and they say onwards and upwards but this is more like downwards and downwards.

"I watched the budget and some of it sounded alright, but when you peel it back and look at the bottom layers, there is no great hope there really."