Robinsons Brewery backs campaign to lower VAT for hospitality sector

Stockport-based Robinsons Brewery has given its backing to a campaign to lower VAT for the hospitality sector to 10% by printing the messaging on the back of five of their lorries.

The VAT’s the Problem campaign, led by Michelin-starred chef and publican Tom Kerridge, has so far gathered more than 230,000 signatures in support, and the family-run brewer and pub operator is getting behind the initiative in a bid to reach one million signatures.

Robinsons’ five delivery lorries, known as dray vehicles, carrying the VAT’s the Problem message can be spotted across the North West and North Wales as they make deliveries to the brewery’s pub estate that stretches from Penrith to the Llyn Peninsula.

Speaking about the efforts, David Bremner, Director of Marketing at Robinsons Brewery said: 

“We were keen to support the VAT’s the problem campaign, we are using our networks to help spread the message and wanted to have an impact beyond the digital screen, and what better than having the message driven around the North West by our teams delivering to our pubs.”

William Robinson, Managing Director of Pubs, said:

“The compounding impact of taxes on pubs and hospitality is really beginning to bite the sector, the changes to National Insurance and National Minimum Wage increases affect hospitality businesses especially hard. To be able to invest in our teams and future growth, hospitality needs to be given the same support it receives in other European countries.?This will also allow us to employ and invest in younger team members and through that help them to develop skills which they can use throughout their careers.” 

The VAT’s the Problem campaign is inviting members of the public to join pubs, restaurants, cafés, hotels, nightclubs and other hospitality sector businesses in sending a message to government to provide greater support for the sector by lowering the rate of VAT paid for their services from 20% to 10%. The reduction in VAT woukd bring the UK in line with other European countries including France, Spain and Italy and ensure hospitality venues remain at the heart of communities.