VAT
We report on VAT policy and its implications for the UK foodservice and hospitality sector, including rate changes, government decisions, lobbying campaigns, and compliance challenges. From reduced VAT measures during the pandemic to the sector’s push for permanent reform, this brings together essential updates that affect margins, pricing, and profitability. Whether you’re a small independent or a multi-site operator, understanding VAT is critical to managing costs and planning for sustainable growth. Our coverage is written to support chefs, operators, F&B leaders, and finance teams navigating a complex and evolving tax landscape.
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Sep- 2025 -2 SeptemberPubs and Bars
Heston Blumenthal calls for more gov action to save British pubs
Chef Heston Blumenthal has urged government and licensees to act to halt the closure of pubs across the UK, warning that the “Great British pub” is under threat from rising costs and changing social habits. More than one pub a day closed in the first half of 2025, according to…
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Aug- 2025 -26 AugustPubs and Bars
One in four UK late-night venues has closed since 2020, NTIA warns
The UK has lost nearly 800 late-night venues since 2020, raising concerns over the future of the country’s night-time economy, according to new data from the latest Night Time Economy Monitor. The report, compiled by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) and CGA by NIQ, show the sector has contracted…
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26 AugustBusiness
Hospitality jobs account for 53% of post-Budget losses, UKH finds
Hospitality has accounted for more than half of all job losses in the UK since the Budget last October, according to new analysis by trade body UKHospitality. Of the 164,641 jobs lost nationwide since the Budget, 88,964 were in hospitality. The figures, based on data from the Office for National…
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22 AugustFood and Drink
Hospitality confidence grows in Q2 despite financial strain
Some 40% of Britain’s hospitality leaders grew more optimistic about their business prospects over the next 12 months, despite rising costs continuing to erode profits and threaten jobs, according to the latest Business Confidence survey from CGA by NIQ and Sona. The survey, which covers the second quarter of 2025,…
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21 AugustFeatures
Ebb and flow or terminal decline: the state of summer hospitality jobs
For generations, the “Great British summer job” has been a rite of passage. Students pulling pints in pub gardens, teenagers serving fish and chips on the pier, and young workers scooping ice creams at busy seaside resorts all became part of the seasonal rhythm of hospitality. These short-term roles give…
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20 AugustTrade Associations
Hospitality operating at 85% capacity, UKH finds
Almost 70% of businesses are operating at less than 85% of capacity according to a new survey from members of the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII), the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), UKHospitality and Hospitality Ulster. According to the poll, tax rises have forced businesses to dramatically cut their…
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11 AugustPeople
Chris Wayne-Wills steps down as UKHospitality Scotland chair
UKHospitality Scotland chair Chris Wayne-Wills has stepped down after a little over three years in the role. During his tenure, he oversaw the creation of a Scottish advisory group of industry leaders, introduced a new members’ forum format and expanded the organisation’s programme of well-attended member events. Wayne-Wills also met…
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5 AugustBusiness
Hospitality sector has shrunk by 14.2% since March 2020, CGA finds
The hospitality sector is 14.2% smaller in August 2025 than it was in March 2020 before the first covid lockdown, according to data from CGA and Alix Partners. It comes as the sector has seen 62 net closures per month, or two a day since the beginning of the year.…
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Jul- 2025 -28 JulyBusiness
UKH warns of sharp fall in summer job vacancies
The sharp drop in hospitality job vacancies this summer has prompted warnings from UKHospitality that the “great British summer job” may be under threat. Allen Simpson, chief executive of UKH, blamed rising costs for “less employment, less opportunity and less growth in the economy”. Simpson said: “Unless the government acts,…
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17 JulyBusiness
Hospitality hit hardest by job losses, ONS data shows
Hospitality has been the hardest hit sector of the economy since the Budget, accounting for nearly half (45%) of all job losses, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. The data shows that hospitality has now lost 84,000 jobs since the budget, an increase of 13,000 job losses…
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