Robinsons Brewery are pledging support for Tom Kerridge’s VAT’s the Problem campaign by printing the messaging on the back of five of their lorries.
The campaign for 10% VAT for hospitality is approaching 230,000 signatures on a petition, and the Stockport-based brewer and pub company is looking to help reach one million signatures.
Their dray vehicles can be spotted across the North West and North Wales, stretching as far north as Penrith and all the way to the Llyn Peninsula.
David Bremner, director of marketing at Robinsons Brewery, said: “We were keen to support the VAT’s the problem campaign. We are using our networks to help spread the message, and wanted to have an impact beyond the digital screen, and what better than having the message driven around the North West by our teams delivering to our pubs?”
William Robinson, managing director of pubs, added: “The compounding impact of taxes on pubs and hospitality is really beginning to bite the sector. The changes to National Insurance and national minimum wage increases affect hospitality businesses especially hard.
“To be able to invest in our teams and future growth, hospitality needs to be given the same support it receives in other European countries. This will also allow us to employ and invest in younger team members and through that help them to develop skills which they can use throughout their careers.”
What is VAT’s the Problem?
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 1st July, the hospitality industry is coming together to launch VAT’s the Problem — a 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, say campaigners.
A 10% VAT rate would:
- Support pubs, restaurants, cafes, hotel, nightclubs, and many more;
- Get businesses investing in jobs and helping customers; and
- Strengthen high streets and local communities.
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,” says Robinsons.
“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.”
