A SUCCESSFUL hotelier has won an appeal to lower business rates on its properties, saving more than £150,000 a year.

Milsom Hotels operates The Pier in Harwich, Kesgrave Hall, Maison Talbooth, Le Talbooth and Milsoms in Dedham.

The new business rates introduced in 2017 hammered all its properties with a 55 per cent overnight increase in rates.

In the past three and a half years the company has been fighting against having the business rates levied against all five of its businesses.

Paul Milsom, managing director, said he is overjoyed with the outcome.

He added: “I can’t tell you what a huge worry it has been for the business. It’s been a challenge.

“We’ve obviously argued the case that our turnover is high because we do a good job and, therefore, a discount should be given.

“We haven’t invested as much money as we’d have liked back into the business because we had to pay this exorbitant rate charge.

“But now that the appeal is won hundreds of thousands of pounds will come back to us when we need it most.

“In this odd situation we find ourselves in, to get this money back at a time our business has been closed for nearly four months, earning no money whatsoever, is a Godsend.”

He added he believes business rates are preventing people from running small hospitality businesses.

Mr Milsom said the tribunal’s ruling does not protect his company from business rates being increased again in the future.

“But I hope this enormous battle and the established sense will prevail and we will not have to go through this process again,” he added.