30/10/2026
THE COACH HOUSE
GOVERNMENT EDITION
Well, another day, another reason to wonder if the government has actually RUN a pub!!
Apparently we’re suppose to
💷Pay higher wages
📈Pay 20% VAT
🍺Pay more duty - another 3.9%
🏠Deal with business rates that have doubled since the last budget
➕Navigate energy bills, insurance, supplier increases
❤️Keep delivering a brilliant experience without constantly putting our prices up.
And for all that? The support we get feels about as generous as a single olive on a platter 🫒
We absolutely support paying our staff properly. They work bloody hard, and they deserve it.
But here’s the reality: When the cost of running a business keeps rising; that money has to come from somewhere.
We can only absorb so much before some choices become very difficult and we’d rather not!
It’s just me & Ben! In the only independent pub in the village. We’re not a chain with other sites to spread the pain across. We cook from scratch, buy quality ingredients from local suppliers, try and give opportunities to our young people in their first job, butcher most our steaks on site. And work bloody hard to give you something worth coming out for.
So, to the Government: If hospitality is the heart of the high street or village, perhaps stop treating us like we’re there to fund the next spreadsheet.
And to YOU, our customers. THANK YOU 💕
Every meal ordered, drink at the bar, event you attend at ours, every recommendation to a friend, review - genuinely matters.
You help us employ our team, support local suppliers and keep the lights on in a place that means something to the community.
We don’t take that for granted. Not for a second.
Please continue to support your local independant pub. We promise to keep doing our bit.
Love,
You’re slightly exhausted but still fighting Aussie & Brit behind The Coach House.
Ben & Krystel ❤️