The Rutland Arms, Newark, backs MP Sorcha Eastwood’s petition for hospitality VAT cuts to help preserve pubs as community hubs

A community-minded pub is backing calls for VAT cuts for hospitality venues, to allow it to continue to thrive as social hub.

The Rutland Arms, Newark, has got behind MP Sorcha Eastwood’s national petition ‘Cut VAT for local hospitality’ — and has encouraged its regulars and others to do the same to both help keep businesses open, and preserve pub culture.

It comes as the government embarks on a ‘fast-track review’ of licensing laws which it claims will help hospitality venues thrive, including the contested suggestion to scrap newspaper licensing notices to cut back on ‘red tape’ for businesses.

Landlord David Potter said: “There’s lots of pubs failing — pubs are the heartbeat of the community, it’s a social thing as well. We do a lot of community work.

“Money is really tight at the moment because of the cost of living crisis, and even before that prices were rising. Cuts to VAT would allow people to afford more.

“In the past pubs would’ve been a place people would have met up with friends and family, found jobs, even just come for a coffee — basically pubs would have been a community hub — but unfortunately because of the prices and money being tight people have to pick and choose when they come.

“It’s losing that community.”

The UK has a 20% VAT rate for hospitality, which applies to food and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks served in pubs, cafes, and restaurants.

The Lagan Valley MP’s petition states that ‘cutting VAT for hospitality could provide a desperately needed lifeline’ to help these businesses stay afloat, and, with the Autumn Budget approaching, calls on the Government to take this measure.

The petition can be found at: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/743021.

The Rutland Arms shared the petition on its Facebook page, as an ‘important message’ to its patrons and the wider community, asking people to sign the petition, spread the word, and even pop into the pub to chat about it and ‘keep our voices heard and the community strong’.

The post stated: “Here at the Rutland Arms, we are more than just a pub — we’re a gathering place, a spot for local laughs, serious chats, shared meals and pints, and a part of the fabric of Newark and the surrounding region.

“That’s why we’re supporting this petition for a reduction in VAT for hospitality venues.”

It suggested the cut would allow it to keep pulling pints, and maintain a welcoming community space — for people to make memories and spend time together.

The petition needs 10,000 signatures to ensure a government response, and 100,000 to be considered for debate in Parliament. Currently, more than 5,500 people have added their names to the cause.

Describing pub culture as a ‘British institution’, Mr Potter added: “I can’t imagine the country without pubs.”