Mark Robson, ceo of New Dawn Pubs, said: “At the general election the new Government was elected with a strong mandate on a pro-growth, pro-business agenda.”
He said the BII had lobbied hard on maintaining the level of business rate relief and campaigned to reduce the level of VAT in the hospitality sector, a model that the majority of the UK’s European neighbours have adopted cutting VAT to between eight and 14%.
“Sadly, this was not the route the Government chose, instead they opted to halve the relief on business rates and increase the costs of employing our teams through higher employers NI.
“The most recent figures show inflation up 4.1%, GDP contracting by 0.3% and unemployment increasing to 4.6% - clearly the plan is not working.”
Quarter of pubs lost
Speaking at the BII’s Summer Event, in which the winner of the Licensee of the Year is announced, he said during the six years of his tenure as chair, pub numbers had fallen by 10% with over a quarter of pubs closed since 2000.
And now the sector faces the worst trading conditions that anyone could remember, he added.
“I am sure we all hope that the Government will come to their senses and change direction on their policies for supporting pubs and the wider hospitality sector.
“Removing a penny off beer duty does not constitute meaningful support, if they are serious about protecting pubs in the future they need to reverse the recent change in NI and business rates and look seriously at a reduction in VAT. It’s the shot in the arm that pubs need.”
He urged all operators to back the BII’s Our Pub campaign, link here, and engage with their MPs to increase pressure on the Government to listen to the sector.