More than 600 Greene King pub landlords have signed a letter addressed to Rachel Reeves calling for a reduction in business rates for the sector, allowing “breathing space” to invest.

The open appeal urges the Chancellor to reform the levy in the autumn Budget, six months after the hospitality industry was hit with a £500m increase in rates.

“With costs rising across the board, many pubs are struggling to make ends meet, leaving them less able to invest in staff, improve their spaces, or support local economic growth,” states the letter.

“While pubs are well placed to support local growth, intense cost pressures are making survival increasingly difficult.”

According to the latest figures produced by UKHospitality, almost 90,000 jobs have been cut from the sector since last October’s budget introduced a higher threshold for Employer NICs and increased the National Minimum Wage.

“Business rates are one of the biggest barriers to growth in the pub sector, placing a disproportionate burden on businesses of all sizes,” said Greene King’s CEO Nick Mackenzie, adding the Chancellor could make an “immediate, positive impact” by introducing a lower, permanent and universal rate, or multiplier, for pubs.