Fife Licensed Trade Association has called for an end to “unfair” rates on pubs and hotels.
The call follows the closure of the Cedar Inn in Aberdour, which recently shut its doors for the third time in as many years.
Association secretary Tom Johnston said the demise of the popular village drinking spot was part of a “depressing trend”.
He said: “It is reported that for the last three years or so, pubs throughout the UK are closing at the rate of 23 a week.”
The Cedar Inn was formerly owned by Punch Taverns but was one of 1,900 pubs sold to Dutch brewing giant Heineken in August last year.
Under a transitional agreement Punch are still responsible for the Cedar until March and have marketed it for a rent of £56,854.
A local source in the licensed trade described the rent as “extortionate”.
The previous proprietors blamed the takeover for the closure, stating in a notice to customers they had to leave after being unable to reach the same rental agreement as before.
Mr Johnston revealed the Cedar’s overheads were exacerbated when its rateable value was nearly doubled.
He said: “One reason is the unfair treatment of pubs and hotels when it comes to rates. I see that the Cedar Inn’s rateable value had nearly doubled last year, going from £18,000 to £33,400.
“We are the only business rated on turnover, not size. We can point to many Fife towns where the only businesses paying rates are the licensed trade.
“The recent Barclay Report on rates in Scotland recognised there was a problem – but declined to make any recommendations to solve it.
“When we hear that an opposition political party is proposing a further ‘responsibility tax’ on our members, it is clear that politicians have no idea of the state of small pubs and hotels.
“The hospitality industry is one of Scotland’s most important sectors. Pubs are at the heart of most communities. Yet successive governments seem happy to allow it to be decimated. Something must change – now.”
A Punch spokeswoman said: “The pub is being marketed on the Punch website with a commercial lease and rental figure based on the anticipated profit returns generated from a proposed investment spend at the venue of over £400,000.
“We are still recruiting for a new publican and hope to have the Cedar Inn open and trading at the earliest opportunity.”
