Council cracks down on Us-themed sweet shops

American candy shops on Oxford Street are facing a council crackdown for allegedly failing to pay full business rates.

Thirty Us-themed sweet shops on London’s landmark high street are being investigated by Westminster city council for evading £7.9 million in business rates. Councillors criticised building owners for “turning a blind eye” to who is subletting their properties as it led to a “rash of US candy stores” popping up in London.

The shops get away with not paying full business rates by subletting the property from an intermediary firm, rather than the freeholder or long leaseholder, the council has claimed.