Daisy Cooper joins Ed Davey at PlayPutt in St Albans
Sir Ed Davey and daisy cooper visited PlayPutt in St Albans this week to meet local business leaders at the indoor mini golf venue. The pair heard from operators facing higher tax and staffing costs while the leisure sector continues to lose custom to tighter household spending.
PlayPutt St Albans
Helen Whittington, who runs PlayPutt with Mark Whittington through the team behind DJ’s Jungle soft play on St Albans Road, said the business opened in December 2025. She said the site’s business rates are set to double, while rising employment costs and one of the highest VAT rates on hospitality in Europe are adding pressure.
PlayPutt has nine holes based on Love Hearts sweets and a pinball machine, plus a bar, street food menu and lively playlist. During the visit, Davey and Cooper met Jez Levy of EYES on St Albans, Emma Leahy of Bricktraders, Vikas Narula of Tikka Nation, Mark Powell of The Mermaid pub and Cheryl Luzet of Wagada Digital.
Rates, National Insurance and wages
The business is also dealing with the Chancellor’s reduction in business rate relief from 75 per cent to 40 per cent, along with higher National Insurance contributions and the minimum wage. Davey said local businesses are having “the toughest time imaginable,” and added that “this Government has been a disaster for many businesses.”
He said, “Not only is there a cost-of-living crisis, meaning their customers have less money to spend, the hike in business rates and National Insurance makes it finding it tougher to employ people.” He also said, “We’ve been arguing for a reform of business rates so the big online companies like Amazon start paying their fair share.”
St Albans businesses
Whittington said, “We were delighted to welcome Sir Ed Davey and Daisy Cooper.” She added that the visit gave the business a chance “to showcase our indoor mini golf business, which we proudly opened in December 2025, and to stand alongside fellow independent St Albans businesses.”
For businesses built around customers spending on going out, the immediate pressure is on margins and staffing. The rates change, National Insurance rises and weaker discretionary spending leave PlayPutt and similar local firms trying to protect trading as costs climb.
