AN ex-maths teacher turned publican in Bolton marked Chancellor Philip Hammond's budget a D for doing nothing for entrepreneurs.

The Chancellor's business rate break of £1,000 for pubs will be virtually wiped out for struggling publicans who are often self-employed.

At Bunbury's in Chorley Old Road, Bolton, former Sharples School teacher Darryl Leech, aged 44, gave Mr Hammond's budget a must do better and mark of D.

Mr Leech, from Darcy Lever, who gained a chemistry degree at Manchester Metropolitan University before moving into teaching, said: "I'd give him a D as it is giving with one hand and taking with the other.

"The business rate rebate makes no difference to us as we get 100 per cent discount on our business rates.

"The self-employed are being brought more in line with the employed, so that won't be encouraging entrepreneurs to branch out on their own.

"People trying to do something different and make their own way and possibly make jobs for others are not being encouraged to improve on their lives through self-employment.

"I fear it's the start of a trend with one per cent this year, one per cent next year and the year after.

"It's not a very worthwhile fiscal budget as far as I can see.

"The 2p on a pint will be added to the four per cent we estimate we've already seen beer prices go up this year, because of the drop in the value of the pound.

"Importers have been telling us they have been taking the hit and more will be put on our beer. This all squeezes those people who like to go out and socialise.

"I wonder if they are showing a couple of cards and these rises are the start of a trend throughout the Government."

And another pub industry expert Michael Hughes, of nationwide experts MJD Hughes Commercial Property Specialists, said: "Any benefit to the ailing pub industry has got to be good news and will hopefully slow down the closure of pubs nationwide.

"But this is very clearly a case of giving with one hand and taking away with the other. For most publicans in Bolton are self-employed and this budget is a double edged sword for them.

"The increases in National Insurance contributions and higher tax on company dividends will wipe out any benefit from the budget.

"Add to this 2p on a pint, 1p on a pint of cider and over a penny a shot on spirits, so this cannot be seen as good news."