A Beverley soft play centre, Jack in the Box, used by hundreds of local families saw its business rates rise from £9,000 to £36,000, a £27,000 increase.
The increase comes at a time when families across Beverley and Holderness are already feeling the squeeze from rising food prices, energy bills and council tax.
Graham visited the venue to meet owner Ken Lunn and hear directly how rising costs are affecting family-focused businesses.
Under current plans, pubs and live music venues will receive a 15 per cent business rates discount. Soft play centres and other family venues are excluded from that specific relief.
Earlier this month, Graham formally challenged the Treasury, asking what assessment had been made of excluding soft play centres and whether equivalent relief would be extended to venues serving children, parents and carers.
The Treasury said pubs are valued differently for business rates purposes and pointed to wider sector support. Graham says that misses the point.
He has previously backed pubs when steep business rates hikes threatened local jobs and community venues. He argues the same principle must now apply to places serving families.
Ken Lunn, owner of Jack in the Box, said: “Pubs absolutely deserve a bit of help from the government, but places like Jack in the Box do too. We just want to be treated like pubs and keep providing a great service to families in the area.”
Graham said: “Families across Beverley and Holderness are working hard and still feeling the squeeze from rising food prices, higher bills and council tax.
“We hear a lot from Ministers about supporting families. But when a family venue like Jack in the Box sees its business rates rise from £9,000 to £36,000, that does not feel like support.
“When you put pressure on the very places families rely on, you risk pushing up costs or reducing what is available locally. That hits parents and children.
“This is not about playing politics. It is about fairness.
“If pubs are receiving 15 per cent relief, family venues should receive it too. Families deserve the same fairness.
“I have written again to the Chancellor and launched a petition so local families can make their voices heard. I will keep fighting to make sure families in Beverley and Holderness are not getting a raw deal.”
Residents can support the campaign by signing Graham’s petition here.
