Vat - Hospitality

"An empty budget": hospitality reacts to Hunt's Spring Budget

06-Mar-2024 By Restaurant

The hospitality sector has reacted with criticism to the Spring Budget after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt failed to announce a much-needed reduction to VAT or business rates.

Business leaders and MPs increase calls for industry support ahead of Budget

29-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Hospitality business leaders have signed an open letter urging the Chancellor to take immediate action at the Budget to support the sector.

Hospitality in ‘perilous state’ as quarter of businesses run out of cash

19-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Hospitality’s leading trade bodies have warned that the sector is in a ‘perilous state’ after new research found a quarter of businesses have no cash reserves.

MPs call on Government to ‘listen to the hospitality sector’ and back VAT cut

01-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

MPs from across the political divide including the Conservative’s Tobias Ellwood and former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron have voiced their support for measures to support the hospitality sector.

“This is an emergency": industry figures unite to call for VAT reduction

30-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

MasterChef winner Simon Wood and Sacha Lord, Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester, have joined a host of Manchester chefs and operators calling for a cut in VAT to 10% for the hospitality sector.

Relief for hospitality as rates relief extended, but operators left wanting by Autumn Statement

22-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Hospitality leaders have voiced frustration at the Chancellor’s failure to announce any additional support measures for the sector in his Autumn Statement, beyond those already in place.

Conservative MP calls for VAT on hospitality to be cut to 10%

17-Mar-2023 By James McAllister

A Conservative MP has called on the Treasury to halve the VAT on hospitality to overcome what he described as a 'perfect storm' of cost pressures.

Chancellor commits to business rates and energy support but hospitality remains fearful for the future

17-Nov-2022 By James McAllister

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has confirmed that business rates relief and support with rising energy bills will continue for firms beyond April 2023 in his Autumn Statement.

Protesters target parliament in third demonstration

15-Nov-2022 By Ed Bedington

Hospitality operators from across the UK gathered in Parliament Square this week, in a bid to raise awareness of the sector’s challenges with the Government.

Hospitality 'left out in the cold' as Chancellor announces sweeping tax cuts

23-Sep-2022 By James McAllister

Industry leaders have warned that today's mini-budget, which promises sweeping tax cuts but fails to offer firms any immediate financial support, will mean 'last orders' for thousands of hospitality businesses.

'Bleak picture' for night time economy with nearly half of businesses 'barely breaking even'

04-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has issued a fresh call for VAT across the sector to be reduced to 12.5%, amid warnings businesses are facing 'a bleak summer'

Disappointment for hospitality as Sunak fails to offer fresh support for businesses in Spring Statement

23-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

Hospitality businesses have been left disappointed after Chancellor Rishi Sunak failed to offer fresh financial support in his Spring Statement to help firms weather rising cost inflation pressures.

Surge in energy costs forcing businesses to raise prices and cut hours

22-Mar-2022 By Restaurant

Soaring energy costs are forcing some hospitality businesses to raise their prices and cut trading hours, according to a new survey by four leading trade bodies.

Sunak mulls VAT cut extension as hospitality presses for more support

22-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is reportedly considering a freeze in VAT for hospitality businesses at the current reduced rate of 12.5% beyond April in his Spring Statement tomorrow (23 March).

Parliamentary inquiry recommends VAT for hospitality stays at 12.5%

17-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

An inquiry by a group of influential MPs has recommended that VAT for the hospitality and tourism sectors stays at 12.5% beyond March.

Majority of adults support VAT freeze for hospitality

11-Mar-2022 By Restaurant

The majority of adults believe the Government should maintain VAT at its current rate of 12.5% beyond April, according to two separate surveys.

Keeping VAT at 12.5% is vital, UKHospitality tells Government

09-Mar-2022 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.

Two years of Covid 'does £115bn damage' to hospitality industry

17-Feb-2022 By James McAllister

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a loss of nearly £115bn across the hospitality sector, according to new figures from UKHospitality.

Hospitality leaders call for VAT freeze to 'help curb inflation'

08-Feb-2022 By Restaurant

More than 250 leaders from hospitality and leisure have urged Chancellor Rishi Sunak to keep VAT at 12.5% beyond March 2022.

Cut VAT to save £4.6bn and ‘level up’, industry bodies urge Government

04-Feb-2022 By James McAllister

Hospitality and tourism bodies have renewed calls for the Government to permanently cut the rate of VAT for the sector, saying it will save billions and create millions of jobs.

Sacha Lord launches campaign to stop planned VAT rise

10-Dec-2021 By James McAllister

Sacha Lord has launched a campaign to try and stop the Government's plan to return VAT for hospitality to its pre-pandemic rate of 20% next year.

Hospitality sector 'in peril’ as comparable revenues halve

12-Nov-2021 By Restaurant

The hospitality sector is ‘an industry in peril’ with revenues almost halved compared to 2019, according to new figures.

Budget 'will enable hospitality to drive economic recovery', but Chancellor implored to go further

27-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

The hospitality trade has broadly welcomed today's Budget announcement, but expressed disappointment at the Chancellor's decision not to permanently lock in a lower rate of VAT for the sector.

Sunak promises to 'ease the burden' of business rates as he sets out Autumn Budget

27-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has set out his plan to 'ease the burden' of business rates in a Budget that promised more frequent revaluations and a one-year discount for the sector.

Autumn Budget: five things to look out for

27-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Ahead of today’s (27 October) Autumn Budget, here are five things to look out for that will have a significant impact on hospitality as it recovers from the pandemic.

Trade bodies make further call to keep VAT at 12.5%

12-Oct-2021 By BigHospiality

Hospitality and tourism trade bodies are once again calling on the Prime Minister to keep VAT at its current rate of 12.5%.

UKHospitality calls for targeted package of support in Budget submission

04-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

UKHospitality has called for a targeted package of post-pandemic support for the sector, including a permanent lower rate of VAT, in its Budget submission to the Treasury.

Trade bodies unite to call for VAT to stay at 12.5%

01-Oct-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Trade associations representing the UK’s hospitality and tourism sectors have joined forces to call on the Chancellor Rishi Sunak to introduce a permanent lower rate of VAT to accelerate the UK’s economic recovery.

Hospitality businesses urged to call on Government to make VAT cut permanent

26-Aug-2021 By Restaurant

Hospitality businesses are being urged to call on the Government to make a reduced rate of VAT for hospitality businesses permanent.

D&D's Des Gunewardena: "Covid has cost our business £2.5m a month'

11-Jan-2021 By Restaurant

D&D London chairman and CEO Des Gunewardena has written to the Chancellor ahead of today’s (11 January) parliamentary debate on support for the hospitality sector asking the Government to properly compensate businesses forced to closed by the Coronavirus.

Government called on to extend VAT cut throughout next year

18-Dec-2020 By Restaurant

The Government has been called on to extend the cut in VAT until the end of 2021 to help struggling hospitality businesses try and recover from the Coronavirus pandemic.

UKH welcomes cross-party support for long-term reduction in tourism VAT

11-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

UKHospitality has welcomed the cross-party support for a long-term reduction in tourism VAT expressed in yesterday afternoon’s (10 September) Backbench Business debate in the House of Commons.

Extension to VAT reduction is top priority for hospitality businesses, says poll

31-Jul-2020 By Restaurant

An extension to the reduction in VAT for food and drink beyond 21 January is the top priority of government support for hospitality businesses, according to the latest leaders poll.

Majority of pubs and restaurants won't pass on VAT cut, says leaders poll

24-Jul-2020 By Restaurant

The majority of pubs and restaurants say they intend to use the Chancellor’s reduction in VAT from 20% to 5% to help their struggling finances rather than pass on price cuts to customers.

Friday Five: The week's top news stories

17-Jul-2020 By Restaurant

The topic of no shows in restaurants stole the headlines this week with already struggling businesses hitting out at customers for failing to honour their reservations. And here are some of the other main stories of the week
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Independent restaurants voice concern over customer expectations for them to lower prices

16-Jul-2020 By Restaurant

Independent restaurants have voiced their concerns over customers expecting them to pass on the reduction in VAT at a time when their businesses need to use the Government support to survive.

High street brands promise price cuts amid fears for independent restaurants and pubs

15-Jul-2020 By Restaurant

High street hospitality brands have announced that they are cutting prices following the reduction in VAT on eating out.

Wetherspoon poster on cheaper beer branded misleading by CAMRA

14-Jul-2020 By Restaurant

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and Society for Independent Brewers (SIBA) have attacked a promotional poster from JD Wetherspoon advertising lower prices for alcoholic drinks following Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s announcement of a VAT reduction last week.

Wetherspoon welcomes cut in VAT by slashing prices of its food and drink

13-Jul-2020 By Restaurant

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has announced it will be cutting food and drink prices across its pub estate in wake of the reduction in VAT just one week after it said that they were set to increase.

Friday Five: The week's top news stories

10-Jul-2020 By Restaurant

The Government's announcement of a cut in vat to 5% for hospitality was the leading story this week - here are some of the other stories that stole the headlines.

Treasury considers stimulus vouchers

06-Jul-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The treasury is considering a proposal to give all adults £500 and children £250 in vouchers to spend in the sectors of the economy worst hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Brexit could boost VAT Campaign, says new letter to 40 MPs

17-Nov-2016 By Hannah Thompson

Brexit could have a positive effect on the hospitality VAT Campaign, a letter from the Campaign to 40 Conservative MPs has said.

Treasury rejects VAT cut despite cross-party support

11-Feb-2014 By Carina Perkins

Treasury minister David Gauke has rejected a call for tourism VAT to be cut to 5 per cent, despite 28 MPs from all parties gathering to support the measure during today’s Commons debate.

David Cameron dismisses more calls for hospitality and tourism VAT cut

19-Aug-2013

Prime Minister David Cameron has once again shunned the argument to reduce VAT for the hospitality and tourism sectors, claiming that bringing the taxes down to pre-recession levels ‘would be expensive’ for the UK economy.

The 10-point action plan: Travelodge calls on Cable to back UK tourism

21-Jan-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Travelodge chief executive Grant Hearn has today written to Business Secretary Vince Cable, urging the Government to give more support for tourism by moving it from the Department of Culture Media & Sports to the Department for Business, Innovation...

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