Stories

Fri, 29 May 2026

Fri, 29 May 2026 Top UK chefs call for cutting VAT for pubs and restaurants to 10%

Tom Kerridge, Yotam Ottolenghi, Ravneet Gill and Simon Rogan told BBC Newsnight VAT should be halved to ease mounting pressure on the hospitality industry.

* Four top UK chefs and restaurant owners (Tom Kerridge, Yotam Ottolenghi, Ravneet Gill, and Simon Rogan) have called on the government to cut VAT for restaurants and pubs.
* They argue that working in the hospitality industry is "the hardest it has ever been" due to high costs, including VAT, energy prices, and staff wages.
* The chefs are urging a reduction of VAT from 20% to 10%, which they say would help businesses survive and allow them to reinvest in their operations.
* Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden acknowledged the difficulties faced by businesses but said there was no easy solution due to government spending demands.
* Ottolenghi described the situation as "crippling" for his own business and others, with a substantial amount of revenue going towards taxation.
* The hospitality industry has been hit hard in recent years, with Covid-19 and energy price hikes causing significant challenges.
* UK Hospitality estimates that three businesses have gone under every day since 2026, with the rate of VAT being the second highest in Europe behind Denmark.
* The chefs are not asking for a reduction in prices but rather to "allow operators to breathe" and reinvest in their operations.