Your support needed to champion VAT cut for hospitality
Momentum has accelerated this year behind calls for the government to reduce the rate of VAT paid by hospitality in the UK.
With pubs, bars, restaurants, cafes, hotels, and more all seeing costs increase significantly in recent years, there is increasing awareness of how a cut in VAT would give all hospitality businesses the boost they need to continue serving their communities for years to come. Led by renowned chef, publican and TV presenter Tom Kerridge, the VAT’s the Problem campaign is calling for a VAT cut from 20% to 10% for the whole of the hospitality sector. It’s aim is to reach a million signatures to demonstrate to the government the strength of support behind this. Greene King is backing the campaign and is pleased to share a letter with our readers from Tom Kerridge on why your support is so important.
Dear ‘Value for Venues’ reader
Our sector is under huge pressure. We know it, we live and breathe it every day. We know that the key to unleashing hospitality’s potential to grow and thrive into the future comes through a VAT cut. We’re making sure the government knows that too, and we need your help.
That’s why we’ve launched #VATsTheProblem. It’s a nationwide campaign for all hospitality businesses to unite behind a call to cut VAT for hospitality to 10%. In Europe, VAT rates run anywhere between 8% and 12%, whereas we sit as one of the highest with 20%.
That needs to change and we need your help to push this message to Government, your guests, your customers and the public at large. We’ve launched a petition, and we’re aiming to get a million signatures supporting a VAT cut to 10% for hospitality. Now is the time for hospitality to galvanise behind this campaign.
Three hospitality businesses per day are closing. We need them to stay open, we need growth, we need to bring youth unemployment down and we need to secure the future of the most exciting sector that we have.
Our ask is simple. Firstly visit www.vatstheproblem.co.uk and add your name to the petition, or scan the QR code next to this letter.
Secondly, help spread the message in your venue. Displaying #VATsTheProblem posters, beer mats and other campaign materials is a simple way to raise awareness with customers and encourage more people to get involved. All the campaign assets are on the website and you can either download materials to print yourself, or order them to be delivered directly to your venue.
Be part of a movement that aims to get hospitality recognised and taxed in a much fairer way. I know that the Government is listening, but we do need to push hard. Ask every single member of your team to sign the petition, and ask them to rally their friends and family too.
Let’s all get behind this campaign, make our voices heard and bang the drum for hospitality!
Click the button below to be part of the movement and sign the petition today!
