Tax

Henry Dimbleby resigns as Government food tsar

Henry Dimbleby resigns as Government food tsar

By Restaurant

Henry Dimbleby has quit his role as food tsar at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, criticising the government for “insane” inaction on the nation’s obesity crisis.

Keeping VAT at 12.5% is vital, UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls tells Government

Keeping VAT at 12.5% is vital, UKHospitality tells Government

By James McAllister

UKHospitality has told a Government select committee that keeping VAT at 12.5% is vital to the sector, describing it as the only industry in a position to deliver post-pandemic jobs, growth and investment at speed.

Restaurants urged to get ahead of tax deadline

Restaurants urged to get ahead of tax deadline

By James McAllister

Restaurants and takeaways are being urged to make their taxes digital before the legal deadline as part of a initiative by the British Takeaway Campaign (BTC).

Boris Johnson reluctant to impose Sugar and Salt Reformulation Tax suggested in National Food Strategy

Johnson reluctant to impose food taxes

By James McAllister

Boris Johnson has signalled he is reluctant to introduce a Sugar and Salt Reformulation Tax, as recommended by Henry Dimbleby in his newly published National Food Strategy (NFS) report.

Beer sales grow in the on-trade but fall in pubs

Beer

BBPA data: On-trade beer sales fall 2.4%

By M&C Report

The off-trade drove cautious growth in the beer sector with total sales at the end of Q1 up 1.5% year-on-year over the 12 month period.

Staff at The Punch Tavern on Fleet Street wore George Osborne masks for the launch of the campaign today

2% alcohol duty cut could give budget £1.5bn boost

By Melodie Michel

A 2 per cent alcohol duty cut could boost public finances by £1.5bn in 2015, according to an Ernst & Young report launched alongside the Wine and Spirit Trade Association’s (WSTA) ‘Drop the Duty’ campaign.

Sales increased by 10 to 20 per cent for operators who took part in Tax Equality Day

#TaxEqualityDay: Sales boost for operators

By Melodie Michel

Participants to Wednesday’s (24 September) Tax Equality Day reported sales increases of 10 to 20 per cent for the day, supporting their argument for VAT cut from 20 to 5 per cent.

Over 15,000 venues today cut their prices by at least 7.5 per cent

#TaxEqualityDay: Pubs and restaurants unite for VAT cut

By Melodie Michel

Over 15,000 pubs and restaurants across the UK cut their prices by at least 7.5 per cent on 24 September to show the positive impact reducing VAT to 5 per cent would have on the hospitality sector.

George Osborne delivered the Government's 2014 Budget to a jubilant House of Commons earlier today (19 March)

Budget 2014: George Osborne scraps alcohol duty escalator

By Luke Nicholls

Pubs across the UK can breathe a big sigh of relief today as Chancellor George Osborne has once again scrapped the punitive escalator for all alcohol duties and cut another penny off the price of a pint of beer in his 2014 Budget announcement. 

Chancellor George Osborne will make his 2014 Budget announcement at 12:30 GMT

Budget 2014: What can we expect from George Osborne?

By Luke Nicholls

The Chancellor George Osborne will today present 'a Budget for a resilient economy'. But with further calls for another beer duty cut and a reduction in VAT, hospitality professionals will undoubtedly be among those watching most closely.

The VAT Club distributed 250,000 posters to venues across the UK in order to highlight Tax Parity Day, which takes place on Wednesday

Tax Parity Day: Industry set for national day of action

By Luke Nicholls

Managed pub and bar operator TCG and North Yorkshire brewer Blacksheep are the latest hospitality businesses to pledge their support for Tax Parity Day, taking place next Wednesday (25 September).

The VAT Club is also distributing 250,000 posters to venues across the UK in order to highlight Tax Parity Day

Borel’s VAT Club calls on support from pubs

By Luke Nicholls

Just weeks after planning ‘Tax Parity Day’ for the hospitality industry, Jacques Borel’s VAT Club has written to every pub in the country, calling for their support in its on-going efforts to reduce VAT to 5 per cent.

The VAT Club is distributing 250,000 posters to venues across the UK in order to highlight Tax Parity Day

Tax Parity Day: Borel's VAT Club plans national day of action

By Luke Nicholls

UK hospitality businesses are charged 20 per cent VAT on all sales, whereas the supermarkets pay virtually no VAT on food sales. Is this far? The VAT Club JB, headed up by veteran campaigner Jacques Borel, certainly doesn’t think so and is launching a...

The Chancellor George Osborne will deliver his 2013 Budget today with businesses, including those in the hospitality industry, watching closely

Budget 2013: What the hospitality industry is hoping for

By Peter Ruddick

Today, once again, the Chancellor will present a Budget which will be closely watched for signs of improvement in the economy or help for businesses, but with rumours swirling about the future of the beer duty escalator, hospitality industry professionals...

Wetherspoon's total tax bill wfor the six-month period was £273.5m - 43.7 per cent of its sales

JD Wetherspoon’s profits slip on higher costs

By Luke Nicholls

Pub giant JD Wetherspoon posted a ‘reasonable’ set of results for the half-year ending 27 January 2013, with the burden of what the Group calls ‘stealth taxes’ contributing to a drop of 2.7 per cent in its pre- tax profit to £34.8m.

Hospitality businesses have welcomed extra cash in the Autumn Statement to spend on capital investments and the scrapping of a planned rise in fuel duty but argued the Government still needs to do more

Lukewarm welcome: Hospitality businesses react to the Autumn Statement

By Peter Ruddick

Businesses, the main beneficiaries of the small amount of good news delivered in the Chancellor's Autumn Statement yesterday, have begun giving their reaction, welcoming tax cuts and increased spending but calling on more to be done for the hospitality...

In his Autumn Statement, Chancellor George Osborne warned there are no 'miracle cures' and admitted more drastic action is needed to balance Britain's books

Autumn Statement 2012: Osborne delivers good news for businesses

By Luke Nicholls

“The British economy is healing,” proclaimed George Osborne in his Autumn Statement earlier today as the Chancellor made a number of big pledges in a bid to help businesses, despite the nation facing a longer-than-expected battle to reduce its debts.

J D Wetherspoon has become the latest hospitality operator to warn of the possible trading 'hangover' after a busy summer of sport and events

J D Wetherspoon predicts post-summer 2012 sales drop

By Peter Ruddick

Pub operator J D Wetherspoon has become the latest hospitality business to warn of the possible sales growth 'hangover' following a summer of sport, the Olympics and headline events.

Peel Hotels' financial results: 'toughest' year ever

Peel Hotels blames 'toughest' financial year on VAT

By Peter Ruddick

Peel Hotels has reported a drop in revenues from its nine hotels resulting in a significant fall in profits of 54 per cent which the London-based company has attributed to the VAT rise and the economic climate.

JD Wetherspoon has reported a 2 per cent rise in like-for-like sales in the 13 weeks to 22 April

JD Wetherspoon 'more cautious' as tax bill mounts

By Luke Nicholls

National pub group JD Wetherspoon has announced that it is to reduce the number of new pub openings in the next financial year as it grapples with a £50m increase in its annual tax bill.

Budget 2012: The pub and bar industry's reaction

Budget 2012: The pub and bar industry's reaction

By Peter Ruddick

The Chancellor George Osborne's decision to refuse to budge on the controversial beer duty escalator in the Budget has been widely criticised by the pub and bar sector as a missed opportunity to reverse a policy that continues to lead to job losses...