CAMPAIGN FOR PUBS

CAMPAIGN AIMS TO HALF VAT FOR UK PUBS AND RESTAURANTS

Management at the Fox and Goose are backing a Staffordshire led campaign to reduce VAT on hospitality.

We have all read about a crisis in hospitality. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) say 161 pubs closed in the first three months of this year across England, Scotland and Wales, equating to the loss of around 2,400 jobs.

The Fox and Goose is performing well, and we passionately believe that a village pub with a strong identity can thrive and is a major asset to a local community.

But we recognise the national emergency for hospitality, and we support a decision of the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce’s Hospitality Forum to back a petition launched by Craig Wilkinson, owner of the Lunar restaurant,  based at Wedgwood, Barlaston.

Craig said: “Hospitality businesses operate on very tight margins and struggle to absorb 20% VAT alongside rising food, energy, wage and rent costs. We believe a permanent reduction to 10% VAT would save jobs, keep venues open, support apprenticeships and skills, and strengthen high streets – it would help businesses survive and continue contributing billions to the UK economy.”

You can sign the petition here - https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/759116.

At a meeting held at Lunar, hospitality forum members warned that rising costs are continuing to squeeze already tight margins, with wages, food inflation, delivery charges and business rates all adding to the pressure. 

Declan Riddell, Policy Advisor, Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce said: “Our hospitality sector is facing an existential threat, and our hospitality forum members have called for a cut in the level of VAT charged on the hospitality sector. We all know the value of hospitality in connecting us with family and friends and we would encourage as many people as possible to lend their support by signing this e-petition and encouraging family and friends to do the same.” 

Launching his petition, Craig said: “While businesses continue to absorb rising costs; including wages, energy, and supply chains VAT and business rates remain two of the few levers Government can directly control.”

“We urge operators experiencing the same pressures to share this petition, and the public to sign it, so Government takes this seriously before more businesses disappear, jobs are lost, local economies are weakened, and ultimately the Treasury loses significant long-term tax revenue.”

Hospitality rates in France, Italy and Spain are around 10 per cent, while Germany applies rates as low as seven per cent for certain hospitality services.