11/06/2026
Hospitality is under huge pressure, with rising costs affecting pubs, restaurants and hotels across the UK. A fairer VAT rate would help protect jobs, support local businesses and keep hospitality accessible for everyone.
If you value your local hospitality venues, please consider supporting the campaign below.
https://www.vatstheproblem.co.uk/
For nearly 220 years, Thwaites has been promoting, supporting and investing in the UK’s pubs and hospitaility industry.
Things have never been tougher - in no small part because the whole industry is weighed down by a punitive level of government tax. The UK has the second highest hospitality VAT rate in Europe, which is now making going out unaffordable. The cumulative tax burden is shutting pubs, restaurants and hotels every week, and we need to put a stop to that.
That is why chef and publican Tom Kerridge is spearheading the movement, bringing the country together to call for a fairer 10% VAT rate for hospitality – in line with the European average.
Pubs and hospitality are part of our national story and heritage - we have already lost so many businesses in our sector, we simply cannot afford to lose any more.
So please support them – join us in signing the petition for 10% hospitality VAT.
Link here 👉 https://www.vatstheproblem.co.uk/
