Stories

Tue, 28 Jul 2026

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 Michelin-starred chef calls for VAT cut for restaurants

Sat Bains offers deli versions of some of his dishes to promote local businesses facing high costs.

* Sat Bains, a Michelin-starred chef, has called on the government to cut VAT for the restaurant industry.
* He hosted a breakfast pop-up at a local deli in Nottinghamshire to support local businesses and said that uncertainty about the cost of living is the biggest issue facing the industry.
* The government has announced early help for pubs but Bains argues that cutting VAT would be more effective.
* Value Added Tax (VAT) is currently 20% in the UK, which is one of the highest rates in Europe.
* Other top UK chefs and restaurant owners have also urged the government to cut VAT for restaurants and pubs.
* The move was prompted by the difficulty of the trading environment for hospitality, with many businesses struggling due to high living costs.
* Bains said that cutting VAT would help but is just one part of addressing the wider cost of living crisis.