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In a video address at the UKHospitality summer conference, Reeves thanked operators and acknowledged the tough trading conditions.
She said: “To all of you in the room, the people who run the pubs, restaurants, hotels and venues that sit at the heart of the community in our country, thank you for your hard work.
“I know this has been a genuinely hard period and we don’t underestimate that for a moment.”
Sector campaigning
She referenced the VAT cut on children’s meals this summer - something UKH chair Kate Nicholls urged the sector to “embrace” earlier in the conference - as well as the changes to business rates announced earlier this year (January).
“When people feel confident in the economy, you are often first to welcome them through the doors and it’s my mission, to drive that confidence up, starting with the great British summer savings this summer,” Reeves said.
“I also want to acknowledge what your sector has campaigned for and want this Government has acted on.
“You pushed for permanent, lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure, which we have delivered worth nearly £900m a year."
Committed to growth
Reeves’ address comes soon after the launch of #VATsTheProblem - a campaign to cut VAT to 10% for hospitality, spearheaded by celebrity chef and pub operator Tom Kerridge and backed by a number of trade bodies.
The petition, which has a target of 1m signatures, currently stands at almost 200,000.
The Chancellor added: “I’m counting on UKHospitality and the businesses you represent to continue working with us consistently and also constructively.
“When hospitality thrives, Britain thrives and with a Government that is committed to growth, I believe the best days are ahead of us.”
