Mark Stretton

CEO @FleetStreetPR | Former hack, now flack | Husband & Dad of boys + a dog | Love sport, pubs, food and drink | sad Portsmouth FC fan | Fitness fanatic (LOLs)

[Mark Stretton @markstretton]

From the Dead Sea to the Red Sea via big hills, dirt, desert & sand + a bit of rain & hail, plus the odd flat tyre, we did it! Thanks to my fantastic fellow @Pedallingforpub riders, crew + our sponsors & supporters, we've raised £257k for @apavementaway and @LTCharity

[Fleet Street. @FleetStreetPR]

The @Pedallingforpub team of 27 riders has cycled 4 days from Amman to Aqaba through rain, sun, hail, sand and rocks. Many are bruised & battered but all are VERY proud to have completed it. We’ve raised over £250,000 for @apavementaway & @LTCharity. Thanks for your support!

[Kate Nicholls OBE @UKHospKate]

We already face the highest tax on a Great British holiday - we are also the only country in EU that doesn’t have a lower VAT rate for hospitality if the government is serious about tackling the cost of living the last thing they should do is add another tax on working families.

[Mark Stretton @markstretton]

Not quite sure where to start with this - from Treasury Minister Dan Tomlinson. Laughable… risible….insulting. The industry deserves better than this:

https://t.co/l1kPxa10Ox

[Bernie @Artemisfornow]

Labour don’t understand business.

2020 - to employ a 21 year old 40 full time would cost £17,035
2026 - to employ a 21 year old 40 full time would cost £29,600

A 74% increase. Meaning a cafe needs £400k extra turnover just to fund ONE job!

[UKHospitality @UKHofficial]

“This is the final nail in the coffin for some” - @UKHospKate

@thetimes front page today uses our analysis that the average pub rates will increase 76% over three years, compared to 16% for warehouses used by online giants.

Urgent action is required.
https://t.co/tU60DlOoAr

[Mark Stretton @markstretton]

In case you missed it….

[BBC Breakfast @BBCBreakfast]

'The Budget last year hit the sector hard'

Allen Simpson from UK Hospitality spoke to #BBCBreakfast about the impact of increased National Insurance and business rates

https://t.co/fZSAmE4xXB

[Kate Nicholls OBE @UKHospKate]

8 pubs a week and 2 restaurants a day closed in 2025 after Rachel Reeves's National Insurance raid https://t.co/TqRhJfoF0v

[Kate Nicholls OBE @UKHospKate]

The real impact of being #TaxedOut

[Kate Nicholls OBE @UKHospKate]

A reminder that UK hospitality guests are the most highly taxed in Europe - paying the highest prices because our businesses are #TaxedOut

[Kate Nicholls OBE @UKHospKate]

The country needs jobs. We create them but just as importantly we develop people, we creete places, we build communities - but we are being #TaxedOut

Support our Budget campaign - get involved and make your voice heard 👇🏻

[Zonal UK @ZonalUK]

⏰ Why is 'going out out' getting earlier and earlier? Our latest research reveals a clear shift in guest behaviour, with younger consumers leading the move towards earlier visits.

➡️ 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://t.co/iiEK0sC0Vp

Produced in partnership with @CGA_insights

[Kate Nicholls OBE @UKHospKate]

Very worrying the number of independent businesses reporting the same thing this week - small businesses in particular taken by surprise and only now realising the full impact of payroll increases. We need urgent reappraisal

[Mark Stretton @markstretton]

@secondtierpod One of the best grounds and playing surfaces in the country… any good?

[UKHospitality @UKHofficial]

As a large employer of part time workers, the reduction of the NIC threshold will be particularly painful for hospitality.

"We estimate it's going to cost the hospitality sector an extra £3.5 billion" @UKHospKate told @itvnews about the total cost of last week's Budget.

[Kate Nicholls OBE @UKHospKate]

Analysis of impact of Budget on hospitality by the excellent team at @UKHofficial here - up to £2500 per worker with hit on prices, jobs and investment. We urge the Chancellor to think again on halving the NIC limit https://t.co/AZqlrTnQej

[UKHospitality @UKHofficial]

"What we're asking for is to avoid this cliff edge and introduce a lower, permanent and universal multiplier for hospitality."

Our board member Fiona Eastwood, COO of @MerlinEntsNews, was on @bbc5live discussing what we need to see in today's Budget.

[UKHospitality @UKHofficial]

“Our companies desperately want to be able to support higher wages for staff but what is being asked of them is simply unsustainable if taxes are going to shoot up at the same time" our CEO @UKHospKate told @Telegraph.
https://t.co/n9j8B04aCQ

[Mark Stretton @markstretton]

@NoContextBrits McDonald’s of pubs

[UKHospitality @UKHofficial]

"We bear a disproportionate burden across hospitality and high street businesses."

Our CEO @UKHospKate was on @BBCr4today discussing our joint call with @the_brc to implement a fairer level of business rates for hospitality and retail at the Budget.

https://t.co/UkixOHakUB

[Mark Stretton @markstretton]

@Wingers76 @AlexReilley1 Beat me to it!

[Mark Stretton @markstretton]

@hmurray9 @PutintsevaYulia Wow. That is terrible.