02/06/2026
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Please share far and wide.
It’s starting to gain more traction in the media, with many high-profile chefs and industry leaders raising awareness of the growing crisis facing hospitality. Restaurants across the region and other parts of the UK are being crippled by VAT. With with food costs, energy bills, rent and wages all rising, handing over 20% VAT on top is pushing many businesses to breaking point. Independent restaurants especially are struggling to stay afloat, with owners working longer hours for less return. Many are cutting staff, reducing opening hours or like a lot of friends places are closing altogether because the numbers simply don’t add up anymore. The sector keeps being told to absorb costs, but there comes a point where restaurants can’t keep raising prices without driving customers away.
The hospitality industry is one of the UK’s largest employers, supporting around 3.5 million jobs across restaurants, catering businesses, pubs, bars, hotels and other hospitality venues. If rising costs and the current VAT burden continue to force businesses to close, the impact will extend far beyond restaurant owners. Hundreds of thousands of jobs could be put at risk, reducing tax revenues, increasing pressure on welfare systems and damaging local economies that rely on thriving hospitality businesses. Rather than generating more income for the Treasury, excessive pressure on the sector risks creating unemployment and undermining an industry that contributes billions of pounds to the UK economy every year.
The north east’s reputation is built on our warm hospitality. Imagine a north east where there’s no where to go for a pint before the match or to wet the babies head with the lads. Or no where to catch up with the girls before the concert. No where to propose to your love over a candle lit meal. No place to take the kids for a spot of lunch because you just have to get out the house in the summer holidays. Or no where to go because you’re just rubbish at cooking and want a well cooked meal cooked by professionals and people who care about looking after you.
It would be sh*te wouldn’t it? So please if you see any online petitions to the government take a moment to sign them because a world without hospitality would just be rubbish.
Also support local when you can…
Also buy a Roxburger. A non profit pop up with all profits going to the government via our quarterly VAT bills
www.theroxburgh.co.uk/the-roxburger
