Top UK chefs demand 10% VAT cut to save British pubs and restaurants

Prominent British chefs including Tom Kerridge, Yotam Ottolenghi, Ravneet Gill, and Simon Rogan are calling on the UK government to slash VAT to 10% for the hospitality sector. The chefs made their appeal in an interview with BBC Newsnight, citing mounting financial pressure on pubs and restaurants across Britain.

Some of the United Kingdom's most celebrated culinary figures have united to demand a significant tax reduction for the struggling hospitality industry. Tom Kerridge, Yotam Ottolenghi, Ravneet Gill, and Simon Rogan all called on the British government to reduce VAT from its current rate to 10% for pubs and restaurants.

The chefs made their appeal in an appearance on BBC Newsnight, arguing that the tax burden is becoming unsustainable for hospitality businesses across the UK. The industry has faced compounding financial pressures in recent years, including rising energy costs, increased food prices, and shifting consumer spending habits.

A 10% VAT rate for the hospitality sector would represent a substantial reduction from the current standard UK rate of 20%. Supporters of the cut argue it would help preserve thousands of businesses and jobs that form the backbone of local communities throughout Britain. The hospitality industry has long lobbied for a reduced rate, pointing to lower VAT levels applied to the sector in several other European countries as a competitive benchmark.