Hospitality is one of the UK’s greatest success stories. It employs millions of people, gives young people their first jobs, keeps high streets alive and brings communities together.
But the sector is under enormous pressure. Rising energy costs. Food inflation. Huge employment costs. Unjust business rates. The highest tax burden in the UK economy. And on top of all of that — a 20% VAT rate that is among the highest in Europe.
On 1 July, the hospitality industry is coming together to launch ‘VAT’s the Problem’ — the united sector campaign calling for hospitality VAT to be reduced from 20% to 10%.
This is a plan for fair tax. This is a plan for growth.
Countries including Spain, Italy, France, Ireland and Germany know how important hospitality is to society, and they know it pays too much tax.
That’s why they already support hospitality with lower VAT rates. The UK deserves the same.
A 10% VAT rate would:
-Support pubs, restaurants, cafes, hotels and nightclubs, and many more.Get businesses investing in jobs and helping our customers
-Strengthen high streets and local communities
Because when hospitality businesses close, communities lose far more than places to eat and drink — they lose connection, opportunity and local identity.
This campaign is about everyone: Our customers, waiting staff, chefs, kitchen porters, bar staff, hotel teams, farmers, brewers, suppliers and producers.
Tom Kerridge is spearheading this nationwide movement, and we are asking the whole of hospitality to stand together to say Vat’s The Problem – 10% is fair for hospitality.
Industry ask
Be ready for the 1 July. Use your venue, platforms and networks to spread the message:
Sign the petition on the website www.vatstheproblem.co.uk and share it with all of your teams – we need as many of you to sign this NOW ahead of the formal launch.
Put the link to the website on your own emails, socials and website.
Get the posters, beer mats, and till receipts we are making. We’ll tell you when they are ready. Use the social media toolkit to spread the word
A full campaign toolkit will be available before the 1 July for businesses across hospitality.
Let us know what else you need – we want to hear from you.
Customer ask
Speak to your customers and ask them to stand with you. We want them to support their local pubs, clubs, restaurants, cafés, tourism sites, caterers and hotels by signing the petition and sharing the campaign.
Visit: www.vatstheproblem.co.uk
Email: info@vatstheproblem.co.uk
Our message to Government is simple: 10% VAT is fair for hospitality.
#VATsTheProblem