If the government wants economic growth then it needs to recognise the value the hospitality sector can bring to UK plc. And that means reducing the cost of doing business for high street venues so that they don’t just stay in business but expand them. UKHospitality and BBPA urged the Chancellor to do more in their response to the Spring Statement.
UKHospitality has responded to the Chancellor’s Spring Statement by urging the Treasury to recognise the contribution a well-supported hospitality sector can make to economic growth.
Citing the government’s stated commitment to nationwide growth, chair Kate Nicholls urged legislators to reduce the cost of doing business for pubs, bars, hotels and restaurants.
“If the government wants to deliver growth everywhere for everybody, it needs to recognise that hospitality is the sector best placed to deliver that across the country,” said Nicholls. “Urgently reducing hospitality’s cost of doing business has to be the priority. That means cutting one of the highest rates of VAT in Europe, properly fixing the broken business rates system and helping hospitality get people back into work by reducing employment costs.”
BBPA CEO Emma McClarkin also encouraged the Chancellor to acknowledge the pub sector’s power to boost growth, telling reporters“with unemployment set to spike we can help solve this problem, but if we’re to keep putting money in workers’ pockets, our businesses need to be viable, which means cutting the heavy cost of doing business.”
“Key to this is the government taking a sustainable approach to the national living wage rises, which will mean we can keep creating those precious opportunities, jobs, and skills.”
Let it grow
Kate Nicholls said… “If the government wants to deliver growth everywhere for everybody, it needs to recognise that hospitality is the sector best placed to deliver that across the country…
Originally published on Coinslot on March 9, 2026. Republished with permission.