The Wonky Table

Incredibly proud to have been re-elected to the @DMBDestination Tourism Board for a second term. I love where I live and will continue to do everything to push our area forward. @bmouthofficial @lovepooleuk @LoveXchurch @bptourismuk @DorsetTourism @visit_dorset Senior industry figure re-elected to lead key tourism board across BCP area bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/26064193.…

This is the impact of the UK having one of the highest hospitality tax burdens in Europe. It puts our restaurants, pubs and many more at a significant competitive disadvantage and deters investment. We need VAT for hospitality to be cut. Read more from Kate Nicholls @UKHospKate, our Chair, in The Guardian: theguardian.com/food/2026/may/…

‘Hospitality is on its knees.’ Landlord of The Old Thatch in Wimborne, Andy Lennox, believes that youth unemployment is at an 11-year high due to struggles in the hospitality industry, which isn’t able to employ as it once did, because of higher business costs.

Only in Manchester would I meet an astrophysicist who retrained to join the vibrant hospitality scene offered by this great city. That was just one of many takeaways from this week’s Institute of Hospitality networking event, where we asked the question: “What drives hospitality success in the North?” Thank you to my panellists, Sacha Lord FIH, Laura Green, Stewart Morrell MIH, and Jonathan Baillie, for such a valuable discussion covering the incredible diversity of talent, passion, and opportunity that continues to shape hospitality across the region, alongside the excitement surrounding Andy Burnham’s vision for not just the city, but the country. Following the event, it was a pleasure to catch up with our Chair, Martin Traynor OBE FIH, and @Sacha_Lord over dinner, discussing exciting future plans for our global #HospitalityFamily. Manchester is such a vital part of the UK’s hospitality and tourism industry, and it is always a huge pleasure to spend time with our members in this vibrant city. Thank you to my colleagues Aymen Fetouak MIH and Emma Ellis MIH, for managing this latest opportunity to meet our members in the North. #imin #MeetingOurMembers #Manchester #StrongerTogether

@AngusAllan66 @allen_m_simpson #CutVatinlinewithEurope

@allen_m_simpson Labour Isn’t Working. Again.

Jobs collapse well underway as predicted. Especially hospitality & young people. It’s part govt policy, part Iran war. But govt’s job is to solve external problems not exacerbate them. This is the context for the #holidaytax. Drop that, cut #VAT. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

#VATINLINEWITHEUROPE #V #HOSPITALITY State of the Hosptiality nation. @UKHofficial @ukhcymru @ukhscotland are campaigning for a lower rate of VAT to 12.5% @beerandpub are campaigning for VAT to be cut to European levels. @NTIAgov @ntiaofficial are campaigning for a targeted VAT cut in line with Europe to 13% @BIIandBIIAB are campaigning for a VAT cut to 10%. @HospUlster are calling for VAT intervention to protect jobs and competitiveness, especially with Ireland moving to 9%. @IoH_Online are supporting research into a VAT Cut inline with Europe @CAMRA_Official continue to call for VAT cut in line with European levels to support pubs. @scothospgroup and @Scotbeerandpubare calling for VAT relief in line with Europe to protect jobs, pubs, restaurants and communities. @NFFF_UK are supporting a a VAT Cut to 13% @CampaignforPubs are supporting a Vat cut to European levels The exact number may vary. 10%., 12.5% or 13%. Yet all various European levels. The message is now the same. Hospitality is united with one important call. Cut VAT in line with Europe. With the @reformparty_uk promising 10% @LibDems promising 15% and @AndyBurnhamGM / @AngelaRayner also supporting a VAT cut to European levels. If not, IF, but when… #VATINLINEWITHEUROPE #HOSPITALITY #CUTVAT #SUPPORTBRITISHHOSPITALITY @wonky_table @HospoVoices @HospoTogether

#Hospitality @wonky_table #toptrumps Supporting a #VatCut #VatinlinewithEurope #V @AndyBurnhamGM

@Sacha_Lord @HospitalityHer3 @NickFerrariLBC @LBC @andyjlennox believe this was you :)

@NickFerrariLBC @LBC … just on the way down to do Cross Questions tonight. Listened to your caller ref VAT. He’s absolutely right…Andy Burnham announced in Feb that he would look at Reducing Vat for Hospitality.

So let’s talk about smoking in beer gardens @LBC @LBCNews but let’s ACTUALLY talk about #Vat and the importance of a #VatCut for #Hospitality and getting that #VATInlinewithEurope and the potential that if @AndyBurnhamGM was to take on @UKLabour he would actually do it - yes he’s said he would look to cut VAT for Hospitality, that would mean nearly all the major parties would have a position on VAT Thanks as usual @NickFerrariLBC was a pleasure. #Notifbutwhen #V is starting. @HospoVoices @wonky_table @HospoTogether @HospoRisingUK

Pubs & #hospitality businesses in your constituency need direct support through the cost-of-living crisis @AphraBrandreth Please support a #VATCut to ensure #pubs, restaurants, cafés & clubs can survive! @campaignforpubs @ntiaofficial @ioh_online @wonky_table @ncass_uk

The latest pub closure figures must be a wake up call for the UK Government, the Scottish Government & the Welsh Government, all of which are failing #pubs, #publicans & customers. 🔺We need an emergency VAT cut actionbutton.nationbuilder.com/share/SPK-QEZI… 🔺Legislation to #stopthepubcoripoff through the tie & phoney franchise ‘self-employed manager models. 🔺Changes to planning law so no pub can be lost if there’s a buyer at the independently assessed value as a pub, to stop the cynical predatory purchasing & conversions/redevelopment.

The answer is a #Vatcut in Line with Europe. The sooner @griffitha and the @Conservatives get with the program the better @ConsHospitality

The answer is a #Vatcut in Line with Europe. The sooner @griffitha and the @Conservatives get with the program the better @ConsHospitality

'Loosen the purse strings': Tom Kerridge urges VAT cut to save struggling hospitality sector lbc.co.uk/article/tom-ke…

VAT.

The answer is a #Vatcut in Line with Europe. The sooner @griffitha and the @Conservatives get with the program the better @ConsHospitality #VatCut #Hospitality

Right now, in Hospitality, if you are breaking even, you are doing well. Many operators aren't even taking a wage. Jobs are being lost. Tomorrow, they get hit with the Business Rates Increase, just another stealth tax. A reduction in VAT is the only way to resolve this mess.

“Six hospitality venues are closing every single day.” Thank you @JeromeMayhew for raising the scale of business closures in the sector this year. We need a hospitality-wide solution on business rates to prevent closures escalating further.

Good to join ⁦@andyjlennox⁩ to speak about the reasons behind this with ⁦@NickFerrariLBC⁩ this morning - 33,000 hospitality businesses closed since 2024 election, 10% of total business failures and directly attributable to tax and regulatory decisions #cutvat

Thanks to @LBCNews @LBC @NickFerrariLBC for helping to highlight the 33,000 closures since the 2024 elections. That’s 70 a day. Not to mention the amount of jobs lost. #TaxedOut @wonky_table @HospoVoices we need a #VATCUT in line with Europe and we need it now. #Hospitality #HospitalityVoices