VAT in the hospitality industry

The leading figures of the campaign to reduce VAT in the hospitality industry met with the Minister of State at the Brexit Department, Steve Baker MP and a number of other senior Conservative MPs who support the pub and beer industries.

Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) chief executive Kate Nicholls, British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) chief executive Brigid Simmonds, Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin and the VAT Campaign’s spokesman Chris Guyver met the MPs at the House of Commons.

Mr Martin said: “ This was an excellent meeting and shows that the campaign to reduce VAT in the hospitality industry is being taken seriously at the highest level.

“ I told the meeting how the industry is responding positively to the opportunities flowing from Brexit.

“In particular, the opportunity to reduce VAT in pubs and restaurants was now more achievable as the UK leaves the EU, unencumbered by European Commission rules which currently prevent this.”

ALMR chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “ MPs warmed to the idea that leaving the EU will make eating and drinking in pubs and restaurants much cheaper.”

BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds added: “ We will continue to lobby Parliament to ensure the pub trade benefits from Brexit.”

And Chris Guyver concluded: “At the heart of Westminster, there is now a recognition that one of the salient benefits of the UK leaving the EU is our ability to organise our tax affairs in a way that suits British businesses.”

Pictured left to right – Paul Scully MP, Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin, Bob Blackman MP, ALMR chief executive Kate Nicholls, BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds and Chris Guyver.