The Scottish Hospitality Group

The Forward Thinking Voice of Hospitality in Scotland

[The Scottish Hospitality Group @scothospgroup]

What a great start, with industry standing united on the VAT issue

Amazing to see it is just about to hit the 80k mark on the signatures on the #vatstheproblem petition

Please help us by signing and sharing this far an wide 👇

https://t.co/9U7TXOAbLz

#letsdothis #vatstheproblem

[The Scottish Hospitality Group @scothospgroup]

I'm delighted to be part of the speaker lineup at #MALeadersClub!

Excited to share ideas and connect with peers shaping the future of the UK's pub trade.

Find out more here 👉 https://t.co/ckUTsgesP1

[The Scottish Hospitality Group @scothospgroup]

HMRC has clarified pubs do not need to verify who orders or eats a children's meal for the temporary 5% VAT rate to apply, as long as the item is clearly marketed, priced, and sold as a children's meal
More in the link below:

https://t.co/QkTI89VdV0

[The Scottish Hospitality Group @scothospgroup]

@pub_that @NailcoteHall And we need everyone, staff, customers, everyone to get behind this campaign

[The Scottish Hospitality Group @scothospgroup]

Our pubs, restaurants, cafes, hotels, nightclubs and many more, are at the heart of our communities.

They bring people together and bring life to our cities, towns and villages, but they're under huge pressure from rising costs.

In the UK, you pay one of the highest VAT rates in Europe. 20% extra in VAT for your pint, meal out or stay away. In France, Spain and Italy, it's 10%. In Germany? 7%.

Spearheaded by @ChefTomKerridge, our message to Government is simple. Let's stand together to say VAT at 10% is fair for hospitality.

Please help us by signing and sharing the petition below:

https://t.co/884qmqIBRm

[The Scottish Hospitality Group @scothospgroup]

Our pubs, restaurants, cafes, hotels, nightclubs and many more, are at the heart of our communities.

They bring people together and bring life to our cities, towns and villages, but they're under huge pressure from rising costs.

In the UK, you pay one of the highest VAT rates in Europe. 20% extra in VAT for your pint, meal out or stay away. In France, Spain and Italy, it's 10%. In Germany? 7%.

Our message to Government is simple. Let's stand together to say VAT at 10% is fair for hospitality.

Please help us by signing and sharing the petition below:

https://t.co/QQU9wK50Mn

[The Scottish Hospitality Group @scothospgroup]

The Milburn Report out today by @alanmilburn1958 should remind @Gov and @scotgov, just how important hospitality is to jobs and giving young people opportunity.

12.8% 6-24 year olds out of work
Youth Unemployment - 957000 “Neets”
By 2031 - 1.25m “Neets”
“Neets” - Not in Education, Employment or Training

Scottish Government labour market data also shows that for 16–24 year olds in Scotland during 2024:

* the employment rate was 54.8%
* the unemployment rate was 10.8%
* the economic inactivity rate was 38.6%

Hospitality has always been a place where many young people take their very first step into the world of work. Our sector teaches the soft skills that help set people up for a lifetime of employment, communication, teamwork, confidence, timekeeping and customer service.

Many go on to build fantastic long-term careers within hospitality itself.

But the business conditions need to be right to allow this to happen.

This is not simply about a lack of skills. Heavy tax burdens, rising employment costs and restrictive policies around areas such as outdoor trading, planning and regulation are making it increasingly difficult for businesses to grow and employ.

When Governments make it harder and more expensive to do business, it naturally becomes harder financially to employ anyone.

If governments supported hospitality properly, then the sector can once again be one of the strongest drivers of jobs, training and opportunity across the UK.

Halt revaluations on NDR and Cut VAT

https://t.co/jnBEweL4Ji

[The Scottish Hospitality Group @scothospgroup]

Glasgow businesses are going All In ahead of #Glasgow2026!

From themed cocktails and sweet treats to community events and interactive family experiences, businesses across the city are helping create a warm Glasgow welcome for athletes, visitors and residents during the Commonwealth Games.

The best bit? Going All In doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive - just creative, authentic and full of Glasgow personality!

Watch the campaign and discover how businesses across the city are getting involved

https://t.co/Fj3Fec3ezR

[The Scottish Hospitality Group @scothospgroup]

During a discussion on the pressures facing hospitality businesses, Stephen Montgomery of the Scottish Hospitality Group said business rates had become one of the sector’s biggest obstacles to growth.

He said: “One of the biggest things holding hospitality back is business rates.

“I think the government live in LaLa land where in hospitality you can just put the price up all the time and everything is going to be great.

https://t.co/2nVRTuPbuD

[The Scottish Hospitality Group @scothospgroup]

@HarrietCross_MP @Brad_Stephen0 Hospitality right across Scotland and the UK is keeping our high streets alive.

The sector needs a VAT cut before there is nothing on our high streets.

[The Scottish Hospitality Group @scothospgroup]

@FionaCampbell74 @ASSCnews @HighlandCouncil Easy: Build Baby Build!!

[The Scottish Hospitality Group @scothospgroup]

“The elections are now over, MSPs have been elected, and the focus must immediately turn to the real issues affecting businesses across Scotland”

@LarderMagScot

https://t.co/DEj8piNISV

[The Scottish Hospitality Group @scothospgroup]

Whoever gets the keys to Bute House must follow the lead shown by the Northern Ireland Assembly and halt the revaluations on non-domestic rates

Tax the Property, Not the Business

@HannahMargBrown @TheHeraldEditor @heraldscotland

[The Scottish Hospitality Group @scothospgroup]

Business rates are supposed to be based on what a building would rent for, however in licensed hospitality the rates are calculated on turnover also. The size of the building never changes from one revaluation to another, so unlike retail, where the rates are calculated on size, no matter what the turnover increases by, a licensed hospitality venue sees a 481% hike…….. because the owner spent £2m refurbishing the unit. Is that fair?

[The Scottish Hospitality Group @scothospgroup]

Make a coffee, sit down and listen to us talking the business of common sense as we join others and talk all about non-domestic rates on @thisisgoradio business show

nondomesticrates #tax #cuttax #businessrates #scotland #hospitality

https://t.co/vf3w2AIxId

[The Scottish Hospitality Group @scothospgroup]

@agcolehamilton @willie_rennie Fair play to you for doing that @agcolehamilton

[The Scottish Hospitality Group @scothospgroup]

@Overmyheadphoto @FionaCampbell74 @ASSCnews Not all do……. How do you think we managed to get you your 40% rates discount for the next 3 years, or the non-domestic rates review, or the legislation changed on visitor levy to allow a £ figure? Just to name a few things.

[The Scottish Hospitality Group @scothospgroup]

Scotland’s hospitality sector came out swinging at this week’s Glasgow hustings, organised by Stephen Montgomery of the The Scottish Hospitality Group and @FionaCampbell74 of the @ASSCnews, and the politicians in the room were left in no doubt about the mood of an industry pushed to its limits."

@dramscotland

https://t.co/4XkZLCuIlC

[The Scottish Hospitality Group @scothospgroup]

Pleased to have been invited along to listen and speak with Shadow Chancellor of Exchequer @MelJStride today with @The_IoD in Edinburgh.

Being in the room and being able to put the issues directly to Mel on changes the UK Government could make on issues such as a lowered hospitality VAT rate is key.

Thanks also to @murdo_fraser for joining and to Marc Strathie for the invite

#cutvat #hospitality