// BBC BUSINESS NEWS — FINANZA
Budget 2026: 'Surrey is a lovely place - but it can be stressful'
Jo Burton from Hersham says costs for food and school uniforms are getting more expensive
Surrey is one of the wealthiest parts of the country and, according to council papers, one of the largest net contributors to the UK economy after London.
But with average house prices at around £500,000 as well as high rents, it is also one of the most expensive places to live.
For many people in the county, there are huge cost-of-living pressures that are a struggle to deal with.
So as the Chancellor John Healey prepares to deliver his first budget on Wednesday, what kind of support are residents and businesses asking for?
Andy Hayward, who owns Thames Side Brewery in Staines, says it is tough to work in hospitality at the moment
Andy Hayward, the owner and head brewer at Thames Side Brewery, a pub and live music venue in Staines, told BBC Radio Surrey that working in hospitality "is tough generally... whether it's restaurants, pubs, breweries".
"We don't get many people coming in these days just for beer... they need something to come out for," he said.
"When I was growing up we used to go to the pub to meet and just chat and now it seems like people need a reason to go out, so the live music is really helping us."
Hayward said he would like the government to reduce business rates, cut VAT on hospitality and introduce measures so "the public have more money in their pocket".