Mansfield and Ashfield vape shops react to losing business rates relief after Budget

“I will carve out adult gaming centres and vape shops from business rate reliefs,” Healey told the Commons, as part of a package he said would mean half of England's shops, restaurants and gyms pay no business rates at all.

Adult gaming centres lose the relief too, and Nottinghamshire has 19 licensed adult gaming centres, according to the Gambling Commission's premises register.

The vape shop figure comes from an analysis of Google Maps listings by Ecigone, which counted shops listed as vape shops that are still trading. Nottingham has the most with 30, followed by Gedling with 13 and Broxtowe with 11.

It comes on top of the new Vaping Products Duty, which started on October 1, at £2.20 for every 10ml of vaping liquid. The Government says it is a commercial decision whether that cost is passed on to customers.

Craig Goodman, Managing Director of Vape HQ that has branches in Mansfield and Sutton, said: “We are deeply disappointed that the Government has chosen to treat all vape shops the same under these business rates changes.

“VapeHQ has traded for nearly 15 years and is the largest specialist vape retailer in the East Midlands, with 29 stores nationwide.

“This decision follows the Government’s July comments that branded vape shops as “anti-social” businesses that do not make a positive contribution to high streets and local communities.

“That characterisation fails to recognise the clear distinction between reputable, compliant specialists such as ourselves and the illegal or non-compliant operators who sell non-compliant products, including to under-18s.

“Specialist retailers like VapeHQ follow the rules, invest in our high streets, and have helped tens of thousands of adult smokers successfully switch from cigarettes, a product proven to be far more harmful. The real problem is the black market and the shops that flout the law.

“These are the businesses that do not contribute positively to communities, and they are the ones that should be the focus of enforcement.

“As proud members of the UKVIA, we have campaigned for years for a proper retail licensing scheme precisely to raise standards, protect young people, and drive out rogue operators. We would welcome clear action on that front.

“We also urge the Government to clarify how these measures will be applied in practice. Will mini-marts and other general retailers that stack vapes from floor to ceiling face the same loss of business rates relief, or will the changes create an unfair two-tier market that penalises specialist shops while leaving others untouched?

“Without a clear and consistent definition, the policy risks harming the legitimate businesses that are helping adult smokers quit, rather than tackling the illegal trade.”