The Fired Up Hospitality Group

Hospitality Group owned & managed by @andyjlennox Brands. Pubs | Restaurants #poole #christchurch #bournemouth #wimborne #dorset Born 2020

[Andy Lennox @andyjlennox]

There won’t be much of a sector left if we don’t get a #VatCut in this budget. #VatinlinewithEurope @allen_m_simpson - pushing this can down the road just isn’t an option. The campaign will have to change dramatic course if a VatCut is not in this coming budget.

Simpson: VAT cut ‘highly likely’ in near term https://t.co/YobCWTopYi

[Andy Lennox @andyjlennox]

Well not one of my #Hospitality businesses will benefit from this…. Looking around to find anyone who does…… #vatinlinewitheurope is the ONLY reform we need that will actually help @andyburnham

[Leon Samuel Burton 🇺🇦 @leonburton]

Chef @GaryUsher_ nails it. When will you wake up @UKLabour? We were told our sector deserved a lower VAT rate by @andyburnham, so we hope it’s coming in the Budget… we need help.

https://t.co/NVzGaU4GW0

[Andy Lennox @andyjlennox]

Interested to know which “Hospitality Chiefs” are in the room as I’ve spoken to most of the people who should be in that room and they are not and know nothing about it. #Hospitality

@JohnHealey_MP @andyburnham

@MarkKleinmanSky
#vatinlinewithEurope @HospoVoices @wonky_table

[Andy Lennox @andyjlennox]

The cat is out of the bag.

800+ hotels, pubs and restaurants. Some of the biggest names in British hospitality. All the trade bodies. All saying the same thing. Cut VAT in line with Europe. 20% VAT is holding British hospitality back.

@AndyBurnham has previously backed VAT in line with Europe. Now he has the opportunity to deliver it.

This isn’t about a handout. It’s about giving hospitality the tax environment to grow, employ and invest.

If you work in hospitality, don’t sit this one out. Share this. Tag your MP. Make them choose a side.

#VATsTheProblem #CutVAT #Hospitality #VatinlinewithEurope

Hundreds of hotels, pubs and restaurants urge Burnham to slash VAT https://t.co/q2GU7qy9wK

[Andy Lennox @andyjlennox]

The Government can’t have its cake and eat it.

You cannot point to Europe to justify a new tourism tax while conveniently ignoring how Europe taxes hospitality.

A tourism tax of up to 5% on top of 20% VAT means the headline tax burden could effectively reach 25%.

Yes Europe has tourism taxes, but Europe also recognises the economic value of hospitality and tourism with substantially lower VAT rates.

If we want European-style tourism taxes then give us European-style VAT.

Stop picking the bits of Europe that raise taxes while ignoring the bits that help hospitality grow.

#VATinlinewithEurope

#VATsTheProblem #Hospitality #Tourism

#cutvat

[Leon Samuel Burton 🇺🇦 @leonburton]

And we also need to implement @libdemdaisy's plan to cut VAT for hospitality.

[Andy Lennox @andyjlennox]

THE PUBS, THE HOSPTIALITY VENUES, THE PR AND THE VAT QUESTION ANDY BURNHAM MUST ANSWER

@andyburnham has spent years presenting himself as hospitality’s political ally.

He appointed Greater Manchester’s first Night-Time Economy Adviser @Sacha_Lord . He demonstrated real understanding of our sector. Pubs, restaurants, clubs and historic venues then became familiar backdrops throughout his campaign and government PR now….

Before entering No. 10, he publicly argued for hospitality VAT to be brought more closely in line with Europe. Hospitality heard him. Many within the sector backed him because we believed he understood the problem and would act.

After another brutally hard year, we have deliberately given the Prime Minister breathing space. We have followed every formal route, presented the evidence and kept the door open.

We hope Andy Burnham does not fail hospitality. We are not saying that he already has.

His business-rates reduction for pubs, clubs and live music venues was a welcome start. But it does not support the whole sector and it is not VAT reform promised.

At the time of writing, only 19 Labour MPs have signed Parliament’s motion supporting hospitality VAT reform.

Patience must not be mistaken for silence.

If the @JohnHealey_MP Budget arrives without a credible route towards VAT in line with Europe, the anger will be immense. Pubs & Restaurants and other Hosptiality venues cannot be good enough for the pint, the photograph and the political backdrop, but not important enough for meaningful policy.

We do not want to reactivate #NoLabourMPs. But Labour MPs cannot expect another easy pint and friendly photograph in the venues their Government chooses not to protect.

Prime Minister, hospitality backed you.

Now back hospitality.

#VATInLineWithEurope #VATsTheProblem #NoLabourMPs #BackHospitality #SaveOurHospitality @wonky_table @HospoTogether @HospoVoices

[Andy Lennox @andyjlennox]

People keep saying a #VATCUT for #Hospitality will cost £10-15Bn that’s just not true and the treasury have admitted that to us.

There is also no point in charging one of the highest VAT rates in Europe if it’s not being collected because people can’t pay it….

There was just under £7BN in Time to Pay in March 2026 (Source; FOI FOI2026/48259) that against an ask of £0.5BN monthly ask for Vat to be cut in line with Europe - puts it in to perspective.

If #Hospitality makes up 10% of GDP then that means 90% of that money owed to HMRC is from OTHER sectors.

#VatinlinewithEurope #CutVat

[Andy Lennox @andyjlennox]

@jamesmurray_ldn

For the record if a #VatCut is not in the Autumn budget - this would be a betrayal for all of #Hospitality by @andyburnham and his first u-turn.

The money is there, the cut is not as much as the treasury say and it is self funding after a couple of years - the will to do it is not there.

We have delivered @bournemouthuni @wonky_table @HospoVoices paper on this, have you read it James? It shows the costings

I’m more than happy to come and present it to you and the treasury (again!).

#VatinlinewithEurope

[Andy Lennox @andyjlennox]

This is the problem.

SEPTEMBER is now the key month for campaigning to solve it. We don’t need another review of BR. We need a VAT cut.

The final countdown.

Need to see the trade bodies really ramp it up now
#VatinLinewithEurope
#Vatstheproblem

@UKHofficial @ntiaofficial @BIIandBIIAB @beerandpub @NFFF_UK @scothospgroup @HospUlster

@UKHospKate @MickKill @EmmaMcClarkin @AltonSteven @allen_m_simpson @ColinNeil @SMontgomerySHG

[Andy Lennox @andyjlennox]

5/6 months ago…..the call for a #VatCut was fragmented and haphazard and I was told it would be impossible to unite everyone under #VatinlinewithEurope ✌️we would never get all of #Hospitality moving in the same direction with one clear voice…we would never unite the trade bodies...

Well…… sorry you doubters were wrong. #HospitalityUnited

Amazing to see how far the trade bodies and #HospitalityIndustry has come.

#vatstheproblem sign here ✍️ https://t.co/LvLTRb4LOk

There is now a real chance of change
#Justkeepgoingjustkeepgoing #V

@HospoVoices @wonky_table 👌

[Andy Lennox @andyjlennox]

We believe the Chancellor and @andyburnham deserves the opportunity to get the next Budget right and the time to do so. It is our belief that they are listening.

However, the hospitality industry’s position remains unchanged. The long-term solution is a reduction in VAT for hospitality in line with our European competitors. Andy Burnham has previously acknowledged that this is an area that should be looked at and we welcome that recognition.

While any support for businesses is positive, a 20% reduction in business rates for the overwhelming majority of pubs and bars (a none for restaurants and cafes) will have only a negligible impact on trading. In many cases it would not even cover the cost of the head on a pint of beer.

The industry has consistently argued that the biggest barrier to growth, investment and job creation is the UK’s uncompetitive VAT rate.

We will therefore give the Government the time and space to bring forward its Budget. But our message is equally clear: restoring business rates to where they were before is not a reform that the sector will celebrate.

If the Government is serious about protecting jobs, supporting high streets and driving economic growth, it must introduce a VAT cut for hospitality in line with Europe.

We will contiune to engage with the Government and the new Chancellor and give them the time to create a meaningful budget.

If the cavalry is coming then this is the scout and VAT cut in line with Europe will be the charge.

#VatinlinewithEurope #VatCut #V

@HospoVoices @wonky_table

[Andy Lennox @andyjlennox]

50 MPs.

The campaign to bring Hospitality VAT in line with Europe has now reached another milestone, with 50 MPs backing EDM 65944.

This is no longer a niche issue. It is now a cross-party parliamentary campaign.

The question is simple.

Is your MP one of the 50?

If not, why not?

Hospitality employs over 3 million people, supports every high street, every town and every tourist destination in the country.

If your MP hasn’t signed, ask them where they stand.

#VATsTheProblem #VATInlineWithEurope #Hospitality #Pubs #Restaurants #Hotels #Tourism

https://t.co/P1UaHZqxV3

[Andy Lennox @andyjlennox]

🚨 Hospitality VAT campaign passes major milestones

EDM (Early Day Motion) 65944 has reached milestone of over 40 MPs and support from nearly every major political party in Westminster.

At the same time, the wider #VATsTheProblem campaign has hit over 200,000 supporters, showing growing public and political backing for VAT for hospitality in line with Europe.

Momentum is building. One industry. One ask.

#VATsTheProblem #VATInlineWithEurope #Hospitality #Pubs #Restaurants #Tourism

https://t.co/P1UaHZr5KB

https://t.co/TVozcVPae7

[Andy Lennox @andyjlennox]

The key to a #VATCUT is for our sector is the #Hospitality industry uniting under one key campaign, I've been pushing for this for months, indeed when you think back to it actually for years.

You can see my parliamentary statement from @RosieDuffield1's #HospitalityRoundtable at the House of Commons below calling (again!) for a united industry.

I believe that industry has now united behind @ChefTomKerridge and the https://t.co/LvLTRb4LOk campaign and it needed celebrity chefs and the major trade bodies to do it.

This is a pivotal moment for the sector and everyone MUST support it - its not a matter of if, but when and united we stand, divided we fall.

#VatinlinewithEurope #V #CutVAT #VATsTheProblem

[Andy Lennox @andyjlennox]

Proud to support the #VATsTheProblem @cheftomkerridge @ukhospitality campaign.

Hospitality is not asking for a handout. We’re asking for a level playing field.

Across much of Europe, hospitality benefits from a reduced rate of VAT because governments recognise the value the sector brings to jobs, communities, tourism and local economies. In the UK, we remain one of the most heavily taxed hospitality sectors in Europe despite being the country’s third largest employer.

Every pub, restaurant, café, hotel and hospitality business creates opportunities for young people, supports local suppliers and helps keep our high streets alive. We create jobs, drive tourism, generate investment and help build thriving communities.

A reduction in VAT to European levels isn’t about protecting profits. It’s about protecting jobs, supporting growth and securing the future of an industry that millions of people rely on.

If hospitality succeeds, towns succeed. The economy succeeds.

The industry needs to come together and make some noise. The more voices we have, the stronger our message.

One industry. One voice. One ask.

It’s time for the UK to recognise hospitality as the economic powerhouse it is.

Please support the campaign, sign the petition and share it with your teams, colleagues, suppliers and customers.

#VATInlineWithEurope #Hospitality #SupportHospitality #CutVat

[Andy Lennox @andyjlennox]

Various campaigns, various asks but ALL with a common theme - there is growing consensus now around the need for a cut to Vat.

In all their recent statements the following have called for VAT to be brought into line with European levels to deliver fairness for hospitality

It can’t be ignored that Hospitality organisations are calling for a #VATCUT

#VATINLINEWITHEUROPE #HOSPITALITY #NOTIFBUTWHEN

[Andy Lennox @andyjlennox]

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 https://t.co/H6beQ0RL5H

[Andy Lennox @andyjlennox]

#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