Leaders in the UK hospitality, leisure and bingo sector have shared a sense of mutual frustration following the recent Budget, as businesses across the country face mounting operational costs and a shortage of support from the Treasury. The backlash against Chancellor John Healey is mounting.
Hospitality and leisure investors have shared a mutual feeling of frustration following last week’s Budget, with a lack of government support affecting businesses from bingo clubs to bars, and supply firms to recruiters.
Speaking via LinkedIn, Clover Club founder Charlie Hester highlighted the ongoing struggle the UK’s restaurant sector faces, in a post quickly picked up by fellow industry leaders from across the country.
“Next month will mark three years since I got the keys to my restaurant,” said Hester. “That’s three years of electricity price increases. That’s three years of business rates increases. That’s three years of wage increases. That’s three years of food and drink price increases. That’s three years of increased NI. That’s three years of zero support from the government.”
In response, Real Fun Group founder Kevin McGinnigle commented: “I took a multimillion pound PG to rescue some bingo halls out of administration, saving over 140 jobs…three years ago. Eek! Feeling your pain over here. Feeling your pain.”
Klim Artemov, founder of UK professional kitchen supplier Globaltic, also agreed with Hester’s concerns, commenting “every chef we supply is saying the same thing. Hospitality needs proper support, not more warm words.”
“It infuriates me that governments believe the answer to our problems is to increase the national minimum wage,” added Sarah Bagg, founder of specialist leisure and attractions recruitment consultancy Rework. “It’s no good if there’s less jobs available, and career progression is squeezed and no one can afford to go out and spend money!”
Budget fall-out
Kevin McGinnigle said… “I took a multimillion pound PG to rescue some bingo halls out of administration, saving over 140 jobs…three years ago. Eek! Feeling your pain over here…
Originally published on Coinslot on November 9, 2026. Republished with permission.