Printed campaign assets can now be delivered straight to the doors of hospitality businesses, which can display these in demonstration of their support.
Assets include hardcopy tent cards, beer mats, receipt cards and posters all available at cost price. This hopes to encourage customers to also recognise and support the campaign.
Campaign aim
Having launched to consumers on 1 July, the campaign has garnered more than 260,000 signatures in favour of cutting VAT from 20% to 10% for hospitality. This is a quarter of the way towards the 1m signature goal.
If successful, the campaign aims to relieve pressure on the hospitality sector, bringing the rate down and in line with those in Europe, which run from 8% to 12%.
A recent survey conducted by UKHospitality, the British Beer & Pub Association, the British Institute of Innkeeping and Hospitality Ulster reported one in six hospitality businesses claimed to be at risk of failure within the next 12 months.
Great momentum
Spearheading the campaign is Tom Kerridge, chef, publican, and restauranteur. He said: “The campaign has had fantastic support so far and there is great momentum, but we have to keep talking to our customers about why this is so important.
“Talking to the public about why a 10% hospitality VAT rate supports their local venue, local jobs and local high street is essential and we want to make it as easy as possible for operators to showcase the campaign.
“The shop allows you to pick what’s best for you – whether that’s beer mats sent direct to your pub door or posters you can download and print off for the staff room.”
Several trade bodies and organisations are supporting the campaign, including UKHospitality, the British Beer & Pub Association, the British Institute of Innkeeping and Code Hospitality.
