Wetherspoon pubs to host Tax Equality Day

Wetherspoon pubs across the UK will be cutting the price of all food and drink by 7.5% on Thursday 15 September to highlight the benefit of a permanent VAT reduction in the hospitality industry.

Prices at the company’s 851 pubs (not including Republic of Ireland) will be reduced for one day only to mark Tax Equality Day.

In Scotland, prices will be reduced on meals and non-alcoholic drinks only due to licensing restrictions.

“Taxes should be fair and equitable," says Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin. “It doesn’t make sense for the hospitality industry to subsidise supermarkets. However, it is unfair that supermarkets pay zero VAT on food, but pubs and restaurants pay 20%.

Martin has been a long-term campaigner for the reduction of VAT in pubs and bars. 

“We applauded the chancellor when he reduced the level of VAT to 5% and then to 12.5% (for food and drink served in pubs) and urge the chancellor once again to reduce VAT, thereby creating tax equality between pubs and supermarkets.

“He should also note that the main impact of tax inequality is on high streets and town and city centres, which heavily depend on a diversity of prosperous hospitality businesses for economic, social and employment success.

“Government does best when it does not discriminate among various types of business selling the same products.”

You may also be interested in…