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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Oct- 2019 -10 OctoberTrade Associations
UKHospitality warns blanket calorie cap would be ‘impractical’
Hospitality trade body UKHospitality has warned against the introduction of a calorie cap for out-of-home food and drink calling it “impractical”. The chief medical officer has published a report containing a series of proposals aimed at tackling childhood obesity. Among the proposals are a calorie cap per serving of food…
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Sep- 2019 -18 SeptemberRestaurants
Restaurateurs disqualified for failing to pay £4m in taxes
Two restaurateurs from Glasgow have been banned for a total of 17 years after they caused a loss to HMRC of more than £4m in unpaid taxes. Sukdev Gill signed a disqualification undertaking for eight years after he did not dispute that over six years, he caused companies he was…
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2 SeptemberRegulations & Policies
Restaurateur banned for nine years after concealing tax
A restaurateur behind Cyan Restaurant in Glasgow, has been banned from being a company director for nine years after he “concealed” over £130,000 in tax from HMRC. David Cowan was the sole director of Avenbrae Limited, the company behind Cyan Restaurant, it began trading in August 2014, but did not…
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Jul- 2019 -29 JulyAdvice
How to keep ahead of the competition with flexible funding
Our most recent data tells us that there has been a 100% increase in the use of merchant cash advances by independent restaurants so far in 2019. This is purely due to restaurants and pubs striving to keep ahead of the competition and grow their businesses while many chain restaurants…
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25 JulyGovernment
Jailed restaurateur hit with 12-year ban after £1m tax fraud
Jailed restaurateur Lam Chin Seong, from Barnet, has been banned from running companies for 12 years after he was found to owe HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) over £1m. Seong was the sole director of Novari Limited and Novari (at the O2) Limited, which were both incorporated in 2012. The…
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Jun- 2019 -18 JuneAdvice
How to launch a small catering business on a tight budget
You have a passion for food, have been working in the catering industry for some time, but now want to be your own boss. You have a good business plan, have the licenses you need to get started and you are confident that your new venture will be a success.…
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17 JuneRestaurants
Wahaca updates policy after waiter is charged for dine and dash
Mexican restaurant chain Wahaca has made changes to its walk out policy after it faced criticism for making a waiter pay part of the bill. The company has now said staff will not be asked to cover any part of the bill if this happens in the future. Former leader…
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May- 2019 -28 MayPeople
Restaurant fraudster caught by his own secret books
The owner of a Derbyshire restaurant has been jailed for three years for a £480,000 tax fraud that was discovered when investigators uncovered a hidden sales book dating back five years. Nazrul Islam, 52, from Birmingham, hid sales in a bid to evade nearly £480,000 of tax payments at his…
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14 MayRestaurants
Restaurant owner used stolen VAT money to pay school fees
The owner of a Surrey restaurant who used stolen VAT money to pay her children’s school fees has been jailed. Huey Jun Khoo, along with her business partner Jing Fu, used an off-the-record card machine at the Bon East Chinese restaurant in Farnham to pocket £180,000 in VAT over four…
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Apr- 2019 -30 AprilAnalysis
How making tax digital is changing accounting for caterers
Making Tax Digital (MTD), which went live for VAT-registered businesses on 1 April 2019, is a new HMRC scheme that means businesses that are affected now have to use accounting software to maintain their records. Its advent is set to have a transformative impact on caterers and small-to-medium-sized catering businesses…
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