The Kensington venue, home to brewing brand Allsopp’s, will introduce “The Chancellor’s Children’s Menu” from 25 June, when the temporary 5% VAT rate on qualifying children’s meals comes into effect.
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Sophisticated
Example dishes include wild Burgundy snails, anchovy butter toast, beef and oyster pie and a dessert titled “the tax break tart”, alongside a half pint of alcohol free beer.
The menu will be priced at £25 inclusive of the reduced VAT rate during the relief period.
The move follows Government guidance confirming the lower VAT rate applies to meals marketed, presented and priced specifically as children’s meals, rather than based on the age of the diner.
‘Hammered’
Blue Stoops founder Jamie Allsopp said the move was intended to highlight wider issues around hospitality taxation.
He said: “The hospitality industry has been crying out for cuts to VAT to support an industry that has been hammered in recent years, so while this move is of course welcome, it does not go far enough.
“We believe the cuts should be applicable to all diners and not just children. That’s why we’ve launched The Chancellor’s Children’s Menu, to ensure everybody can feel the benefit of this new policy.”
The Blue Stoops opened in October 2024 as the first pub to open under the Allsopp’s name in more than 80 years, reviving the historic Burton brewing name through a modern London pub format.
At the time, Allsopp’s founder Jamie Allsopp said he hoped the site would help “reinforce” the brewer’s role in British brewing history.
The move comes amid broader debate across the sector over the value of the temporary measure, with operators and trade bodies calling for longer-term VAT reform for hospitality.
Last week, operators including Cheshire Cat Pubs & Bars owner Tim Bird told The Morning Advertiser (MA) that the move was a “token gesture”, while others warned many pubs would see little financial benefit because children’s meals account for only a small proportion of sales.
