Pubs face closure without Budget help, says industry giant

Pubs face widespread closures unless the chancellor announces an extension to business rates relief in next week's Budget. the UK's biggest pub company has warned.David McDowall, boss of Stonegate Group, whose pubs include Slug & Lettuce, Yates's and Walkabout, said thousands of landlords currently make just 12p of profit for every pint of beer they sell.Help on business rates for the hospitality sector in…