28/10/2026
"Mate that was the dogs..." "Bloody Lovely Mate. Top Man." "Thankyou so much; beautiful as per!"
Comments like these (all messaged to me this evening) are what make us love this job, irrespective of what happens outside of your control. Today: The Autumn Budget was duly delivered and, despite this sector being on it's absolute arse, no relief was afforded.
In fact, the hospitality sector was nailed once again by a government who smile whilst they deliver yet more damning blows... it feels like being held under water until you're just about to lose breath, before being pulled up for a few seconds and getting dunked back under once again. You long for them moments of air, but they are less and less and shorter and shorter.
We hoped (in vain) that VAT might be lowered just a little... or maybe they would even reduce NI contributions?? Or could they even lower alcohol duty slightly? Anything??? Literally anything??? Even an acknowledgment of existence? A nod to the sector of any sort???... Nope. Not even a thought. 😰 I think the most damning blow is that Andy Burnham has proved himself to be an absolute liar and a fraud? He promised that 'the cavalry were coming'. What happened?? Did they all fall off their bloody horses? 🙈
I've been in this trade a long time; it's never been as tough as it is right now. The margins are tight; we work extremely hard to hand the majority of what we make back to a government who insist that they're on our side.
They aren't. It's that simple. They don't care?
We pay vast amounts into the treasury and we continue to do it because we love what we do! We are passionate about our jobs and our roles within the communities that we're a part of and help to sustain. We love giving people a place to enjoy, a place to laugh, share tales, drink nice ale, eat good food, enjoy live music... make memories that will last.
We do care. And we will continue to care. And we'll get up again in the morning and do it all again!! More fool us, I guess??
But the top of this post is why. We worked our arses off again and you turned up in droves, again!!
Thankyou. ❤️
See you tomorrow. 💯
