A local brewer is calling on residents to sign a national petition demanding tax cuts and support for pubs, as rising costs continue to force closures across the country.

Samuel Mills , founder of Wookey Brewing Co, began promoting the "Save Our Pubs" petition after seeing local publicans post online about the pressures they are facing.

"Pubs are the beating heart of British communities. They are workplaces, lifelines, meeting places, safe spaces, and the backbone of towns and villages across the country," he said. "If something doesn't change soon, we're not just going to lose a few struggling venues — we're going to lose thousands of treasured locals."

The petition states that more than 20 pubs are closing every week, with energy bills for some venues rising from around £600 a month before the Covid pandemic to as much as £3,500. It also notes that profit margins on pints have dropped to as little as 10 to 15 pence in some cases, while VAT and beer duty remain high.

"We're asking the government to stop sabotaging the industry that built Britain's social fabric," Samuel added. "Once they're gone, they won't come back."

The petition calls for VAT for pubs and hospitality businesses to be cut to 10 per cent or lower, beer duty for small brewers to be reduced, business rates to be reformed, and energy cost support to be introduced.

The petition is available to view and sign on the UK Parliament website at petition.parliament.uk/petitions/721825.